mDIXON-Quant technique diagnostic accuracy for assessing bone mineral density in male adult population

To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of mDIXON-Quant technique for prediction of bone loss in male adults.

One hundred thirty-eight male adults were divided into normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups based on DXA and QCT for the lumbar spine. Differences in mDIXON-Quant parameters [fat fraction (FF) and T2^* value] among three groups, as well as the correlation of mDIXON-Quant parameters and bone mineral density (BMD) were analyzed. The areas under the curves (AUCs) for mDIXON-Quant parameters for prediction of low bone mass were calculated.

According to DXA standard, FF and T2^* value were significantly increased in osteoporosis group compared with normal group (P = 0.012 and P < 0.001). According to QCT standard, FF was significantly increased in osteopenia and osteoporosis groups compared with normal group (both P < 0.001). T2^* values were significantly different among three groups (all P < 0.05). After correction for age and body mass index, FF was negatively correlated with areal BMD and volumetric BMD (r = -0.205 and -0.604, respectively; both P < 0.05), and so was T2^* value (r = -0.324 and -0.444, respectively; both P < 0.05). The AUCs for predicting low bone mass according to DXA and QCT standards were 0.642 and 0.898 for FF, 0.648 and 0.740 for T2^* value, and 0.677 and 0.920 for both combined, respectively.

FF combined with T2^* value has a better diagnostic efficacy than FF or T2^* value alone in prediction of low bone mass in male adults, which is expected to be a promising MRI method for the screening of bone quality.

ChiCTR1900024511 (Registered 13-07-2019).