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Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine

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01-10-2017 | Research Article

Measurement of vertebral bone marrow proton density fat fraction in children using quantitative water–fat MRI

Authors: Stefan Ruschke, Amber Pokorney, Thomas Baum, Holger Eggers, Jeffrey H. Miller, Houchun H. Hu, Dimitrios C. Karampinos

Published in: Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine | Issue 5/2017

Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the feasibility of employing a 3D time-interleaved multi-echo gradient-echo (TIMGRE) sequence to measure the proton density fat fraction (PDFF) in the vertebral bone marrow (VBM) of children and to examine cross-sectional changes with age and intra-individual variations from the lumbar to the cervical region in the first two decades of life.

Materials and methods

Quantitative water–fat imaging of the spine was performed in 93 patients (49 girls; 44 boys; age median 4.5 years; range 0.1–17.6 years). For data acquisition, a six-echo 3D TIMGRE sequence was used with phase correction and complex-based water–fat separation. Additionally, single-voxel MR spectroscopy (MRS) was performed in the L4 vertebrae of 37 patients. VBM was manually segmented in the midsagittal slice of each vertebra. Univariable and multivariable linear regression models were calculated between averaged lumbar, thoracic and cervical bone marrow PDFF and age with adjustments for sex, height, weight, and body mass index percentile.

Results

Measured VBM PDFF correlated strongly between imaging and MRS (R ² = 0.92, slope = 0.94, intercept = −0.72%). Lumbar, thoracic and cervical VBM PDFF correlated significantly (all p < 0.001) with the natural logarithm of age. Differences between female and male patients were not significant (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

VBM development in children showed a sex-independent cross-sectional increase of PDFF correlating with the natural logarithm of age and an intra-individual decrease of PDFF from the lumbar to the cervical region in all age groups. The present results demonstrate the feasibility of using a 3D TIMGRE sequence for PDFF assessment in VBM of children.

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Title: Measurement of vertebral bone marrow proton density fat fraction in children using quantitative water–fat MRI
Authors: Stefan Ruschke
Amber Pokorney
Thomas Baum
Holger Eggers
Jeffrey H. Miller
Houchun H. Hu
Dimitrios C. Karampinos
Publication date: 01-10-2017
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine / Issue 5/2017
Print ISSN: 0968-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1352-8661
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-017-0617-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Measurement of vertebral bone marrow proton density fat fraction in children using quantitative water–fat MRI

Abstract

Objectives

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

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