ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the differential value of magnetic resonance asymmetric echo threeGpoint waterGfat separation technique (IDEAL)in benign and malignant vertebral compression fractures.Methods 48 cases of vertebral compression fractures patients (85 vertebrals)were performed conventional MRI and IDEAL scanning at 1.5T superconducting MR scanner (GE Brivo 355 MR system).25 benign and 23 malignant vertebral compression fracture cases were enrolled in this study.25 benign cases(42 vertebrals)included 8 pure traumatic fractures,16 osteoporosis and 1 tuberculosis respectively,while 23 malignant cases (43 vertebrals)included 22 metastases and 1 myeloma respectively.The signal intensity ratios(SIR)of the benign and malignant vertebral in waterGfat imaging and that of inGphase and outGphase (fatty signal intensity/water signal intensity and outGphase signal intensity/inGphase signal intensity respectively),and namely SIR were measured and calculated.SIR in the 4 groups were statistically analyzed.Results WaterGfat SIR of benign vertebral compression fracture was 0.67±0.19,whereas in malignant vertebral compression fractures was 0.14±0.07,and the difference was statistically significant (t＝1 2.6 2 ,P＜0.05 ).SIR of outGphase signal intensity/inGphase signal intensity of benign vertebral compression fracture was 0.52±0.25,whereas in malignant vertebral compression fracture was 0.83±0.07,and the difference was statistically significant (t＝－7.2 9 ,P＜0.05).Conclusion The SIR of malignant group is significantly lower than that of benign group in waterGfat imaging. whereas the SIR of malignant group is higher than that of benign group in inGphase and outGphase imaging.There is no overlap of SIR between benign and malignant in waterGfat imaging and inGphase and outGphase imaging.IDEAL technique has a high application value in the identification of benign and malignant vertebral compression fractures,which is worth popularizing.