MR diffusion weighted imaging in evaluating bone mineral density:a pilot study / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the correlation between vertebral diffusion weigllted imaging (DWI)and dual X-ray absorptiometry(DXA),quantitative computed tomography(QCT)for the evaluation of bone mineral density(BMD).Methods A total of 152 female volunteers[aged from 30 to 80 years,mean age(58.2±14.2)years 1 were recruited in this study.All subjects underwent lateral thoracicolumbar radiographs,dual X-ray absorptiometry(DXA)and quantitative computed tomography(QCT),as well as DWI examination.Lateral spine radiographs(T4-L4)were evaluated with Genant's semiquantitative assessment.BMD was obtained by both DXA and QCT at lumbar spine(L2-L4).Axial vertebral(L2-4)DWI was performed with single shot spin-echo echo-planar imaging(SS-SE-EPI)sequenee (b value=500 s/mm2)after routine MRI examination(saginal T2 WI,T1 WI and axial T2 WI).Apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)was measured with GE-Functool DWI software.Pearson correlation analysis was used for the statistics.Results There was a decreasing tendency in ADC value with age.A positive correlation was found between ADC(0.241×10-3 mm2/s)and BMD results measured by both DXA (1.038 S/cm3)and QCT(104.2 mg/cm3)examinations(r=0.461,0.731,respectively,P＜0.01).Conclusion DWI is an useful tool for noninvasive evaluation of the pathophysiologic changes of bone marrow in volunteers with difierent bone mineral density.