ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the MR signal intensity and spectroscopy characteristics of lumbar bone marrow in normal adult of Tibetan and Han nationality in high altitude.Methods According to the inclusion criteria,lumbar MRI examinations in Tibetan and Chinese volunteers(each 50 cases)were obtained.For each inspector,the lumbar 3 vertebra was selected,TFE sequence was used to measure the signal strength,T2map was used to measured the T2time,and 1H-MRS was used to measure the lumbar bone marrow spectrum signal.The measured data were statistically analyzed.Results Compared with the Han nationality in Xining area,T1-TFE sequence of Tibetan showed obvious low signal in the lumbar vertebra.The relative signal intensity were significantly different(P=0.001).For measurement of T2time,there was no significant differences(P=0.061).The spectrum analysis showed a line of low fat high water for Tibetan,and a line of low water high fat for Han nationality in Xining area.There were significant differences for water peak intensity,Width, Height and peak Area,but no significant differences in Lipid peak.There were significant differences(P<0.05)on Lipid water absorption ratio, fat water ratio,fat fraction between the two groups.Conclusion The Tibetan shows a low signal on T1WI sequence of lumbar spine which is considered in hypoxia condition for a long time,and the bone marrow red pulp associated with water content increased sig-nificantly.