[Proton-MR spectroscopy of the spinal bone marrow. An analysis of physiological signal behavior].
BACKGROUND
Magnetic resonance imaging has shown to be a sensitive method for diagnostics of the red bone marrow, the composition of which changes physiologically and during pathological processes. However, the interpretation of MRI in patients with disorders of the red bone marrow is very difficult. The aim of this study was the characterization of the proton spectrum of healthy bone marrow and its age- and sex-dependent changes to obtain a data basis for measurements in patients.


METHODS
154 healthy volunteers have been examined. After imaging, a spectroscopic measurement was performed to determine the relative intensities of fat and water, and their respective T2 times.


RESULTS
While T2 (water: 46.9 ms and fat: 75.4 ms) does not depend on age or sex, the relative signal intensity of fat increases by about 6% per decade. In the age groups between 31 and 50 years it diverges significantly between men (43.5%) and woman (32.5%) (p < or = 0.01, Mann-Whitney-Test.


CONCLUSIONS
Proton spectroscopy can increase the reliability of diagnosis by offering information on composition of the marrow. The analysis of spectroscopic measurements requires exact knowledge about normal physiological values.
Jung
C M
CM
Institut und Poliklinik für Radiologische Diagnostik, Universität Köln.
Kugel
H
H
Schulte
O
O
Heindel
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric