Analysis of diffusion changes in posttraumatic bone marrow using navigator-corrected diffusion gradients.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to analyze diffusion characteristics of normal and posttraumatic bone marrow.


METHODS
Fifty consecutive patients with knee pain underwent both conventional and diffusion-weighted MR imaging (b values, 0-980 sec/mm2). Diffusion maps derived from source data were analyzed on a workstation using region-of-interest techniques. Apparent diffusion values recorded in normal marrow were compared with values recorded in abnormal posttraumatic bone marrow (square centimeters per second).


RESULTS
Normal bone marrow identified in 35 patients showed minimal diffusion, with a mean value of 0.15x10(-5) cm2/sec. Bone marrow in 15 patients sustaining direct traumatic injury (21 bone bruises) showed markedly increased diffusion, with a mean value of 0.8x10(-5) cm2/sec (range, 0.4-1.3 cm2/sec).


CONCLUSIONS
Marrow injury after trauma with trabecular damage allows increased movement or diffusion of interstitial water relative to normal marrow. The magnitude of diffusion change appears to reflect the severity of marrow injury.
Ward
R
R
Department of Radiology, Boston Medical Center, MA 02118, USA.
Caruthers
S
S
Yablon
C
C
Blake
M
M
DiMasi
M
M
Eustace
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D004058:Diffusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013977:Tibia / Q000473:pathology; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis*