Abstract:
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Purpose: High resolution spinecho and gradient echo sequences have been used by different researchers for the assessment of trabecular bone structure in osteoporosis. The aim of this cadaver study was to compare structure measures obtained from high resolution magnetic resonance (HR-MR) images using spinecho and gradient echo sequences images in (i) differentiating donors with and without osteoporotic vertebral fractures and (ii) in predicting the true bone structure using Micro-CT as a standard of reference.
Methods and Materials: HR-MR images of the right distal radius and calcaneus were obtained in 56 human cadavers (27 females: 29 males; mean age 81.1 +/- 5.3 years) at 1.5T using T1-weighted 3D-gradient echo (GE) and 3D-spinecho (SE) sequences (slice thickness: 0.5 mm, in plane spatial resolution: 0.195 x 0.195 mm2). In these images structure analysis was performed using parameters analogous to standard histomorphometry. In addition fracture status of the thoracic and lumbar spine was determined in radiographs of the cadavers. Micro-CT was performed of corresponding specimen sites of the distal radius and the calcaneus at an isotropic spatial resolution of 26 micron.
Results: Using receiver operator characteristics (ROC)-analysis to determine the diagnostic performance of both imaging sequences in differentiating donors with and without fractures an area under curve (Az) of up to 0.73 was determined for the SE sequences and of up to 0.72 for the GE sequences. There was a trend with better results for the SE sequences, but the differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). The absolute values of the structure measures determined in the SE sequences were closer to those obtained from the Micro-CT data, but correlations between those obtained from SE and GE sequences versus the Micro-CT data did not show significant differences (p>0.05).
Conclusion: In this in vitro study a trend could be shown with a better diagnostic performance of SE versus GE sequences in differentiating donors with and without osteoporotic vertebral fractures as well as in predicting true bone structure, but differences were not significant.
Questions about this event email: tmlink@roe.med.tu-muenchen.de
Link MD, T,
Spinecho or Gradient Echo Sequences for High Resolution MRI of Trabecular Bone: Which Sequence Performs Better in the Assessment of Osteoporosis and the Prediction of Bone Structure. Radiological Society of North America 2003 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 30 - December 5, 2003 ,Chicago IL.
http://archive.rsna.org/2003/3104926.html
