MRI assessment of bone structure and microarchitecture.
Osteoporosis is a disease of weak bone and increased fracture risk caused by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue. The standard-of-care test used to diagnose osteoporosis, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) estimation of areal bone mineral density (BMD), has limitations as a tool to identify patients at risk for fracture and as a tool to monitor therapy response. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of bone structure and microarchitecture has been proposed as another method to assess bone quality and fracture risk in vivo. MRI is advantageous because it is noninvasive, does not require ionizing radiation, and can evaluate both cortical and trabecular bone. In this review article, we summarize and discuss research progress on MRI of bone structure and microarchitecture over the last decade, focusing on in vivo translational studies. Single-center, in vivo studies have provided some evidence for the added value of MRI as a biomarker of fracture risk or treatment response. Larger, prospective, multicenter studies are needed in the future to validate the results of these initial translational studies.



5 Technical Efficacy: Stage 5 J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;46:323-337.
Department of Radiology, Center for Biomedical Imaging, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Gregory
G
Chang
Department of Radiology, Center for Biomedical Imaging, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Sean
S
Boone
Department of Radiology, Center for Biomedical Imaging, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Dimitri
D
Martel
Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Chamith S
CS
Rajapakse
Department of Radiology, Center for Biomedical Imaging, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Robert S
RS
Hallyburton
Department of Radiology, Center for Biomedical Imaging, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Mitch
M
Valko
Osteoporosis Center, Hospital for Joint Diseases, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Stephen
S
Honig
Department of Radiology, Center for Biomedical Imaging, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Ravinder R
RR
Regatte
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012306:Risk; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
bone mineral density (BMD); bone quality; dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA); finite element analysis (FEA); fragility fractures; osteoporosis