Whole Body Diffusion-weighted MR Imaging Study of Bone Marrow in Healthy Adults / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose To explore the correlation between whole body magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (WB-DWI) quantitative parameters of healthy adults' bone marrow with gender, age, height, weight, body mass index, and sex hormone levels. Materials and Methods 108 healthy adult subjects in different age groups underwent WB-DWI scan using GE 1.5T MR scanner, among them estradiol and progesterone levels were measured in 60 subjects within 48 hours before or after the scan. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of bone marrow and the signal to noise ratio (SNR) were compared among different gender and age groups. Partial correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation of skeletal system ADC values and SNR with sex, age, height, weight, body mass index, estradiol and progesterone levels in 60 subjects. Results ADC values and SNR of the female subjects were significantly higher than males (P<0.01);there were significantly differences for skeletal system ADC values and SNR in different age groups (P<0.01). Skeletal system ADC values was significantly negatively correlated (r=-0.642, P<0.01) with age, and were mildly positively correlated (r=0.278, 0.271, P<0.05) with estradiol and progesterone levels;SNR was significantly negatively correlated (r=-0.709, P<0.01) with age, and was mildly positively correlated (r=0.293, P<0.05) with estradiol levels;ADC values and SNR had no significant correlation with height, weight and body mass index. Conclusion Skeletal system ADC values are effected by gender, age and sex hormone levels, the skeletal system WB-DWI manifestations are different in different gender and age groups.