Hakan Ilaslan MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Murali Sundaram MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jean Pierre Schils MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kerim Genc, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Raghavan Gopalakrishnan, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Andrea Rice, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Peter Cavanagh, Abstract Co-Author: Stockholder, DIApedia LLC

To demonstrate MR imaging changes in cortical, trabecular bone and bone marrow changes in patients after 12 weeks of absolute bedrest simulating microgravity.

Eleven healthy volunteer subjects (6 males and 5 females) underwent MRI examinations of lower extermities before and following 12 weeks of absolute bedrest simulating microgravity in space. MR examinations were performed at 1.5 Tesla scanner utilizing T1−weighted(TR:594 TE:11) and STIR(TR:7360 TE: 59TI:165) sequences in axial plane between hip and ankle joints. T1−weighted images of distal femurs were also obtained in sagittal plane. MR imaging findings were analyzed by 3 musculoskeletal radiologists in consensus regarding: diffuse or focal signal changes in the bone marrow(including presence of patchy edema like signal), changes in the vascularization of marrow and cortex.

Six subjects (55%) had interval proliferation of cortical vessels of tibial diaphysis anteriorly. No significant change seen in the intramedullary vascularity. Five subjects (45%) had increase in the amount of fatty marrow in distal femora. Both findings were present in 3 subjects (27%). There were no significant changes in cortical, medullary and marrow signals of 3 subjects. None of the subjects had patchy bone marrow edema like signal in any of the visualized lower extremity ossseous structures.

Proliferation of cortical vessels of tibia and increase in the fatty signal of distal femora were the most common findings in our subjects after 12 weeks of absolute bedrest.  

MRI findings of bone marrow and cortex changes in long-term immobilization are subtle. Patchy bone marrow edema was not seen in our study group after 12 weeks of bedrest.

Ilaslan, H, Sundaram, M, Schils, J, Genc, K, Gopalakrishnan, R, Rice, A, Cavanagh, P, Osseous Changes of Lower Extremities on MRI after 12 Weeks of Simulated Microgravity .  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12037854.html