Luke Arentsen PhD, ARRT, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Masashi Yagi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yutaka Takahashi PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Douglas Yee MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Susanta K. Hui PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Since biologically important skeletal heterogeneity has only recently been recognized, skeletal-wide characterization of metabolically active regions has never been attempted. We aimed to characterize the distribution of cancellous bone across the skeleton using noninvasive whole-body dual energy computed tomography (DECT) imaging.

20 adult female cadavers, ages 40-80 (mean = 63) years, were imaged using a dual source (80kVp and 140kVp) scanner. 23 cancellous bone skeletal sites, from head to foot, were assessed for volumetric bone mineral density (BMD) (mg/cm3) using single energy (140kVp) quantitative computed tomography, and marrow-corrected BMD (mcBMD) using a dual energy decomposition method. McBMD at 23 skeletal sites was examined and their inter-correlations were obtained for control and cancer treated groups.

DECT provided a unique marrow correction for each skeletal site BMD. Although average correlation was high (r = 0.99), larger corrections were seen in the limbs. A highly heterogeneous BMD distribution was observed with a maximum at the posterior skull and minimum in the proximal humerus (580mg/cm3 and 15mg/cm3, respectively). Average correlation for all skeletal sites was higher in controls than in the cancer treated group (r = 0.61 and 0.33, respectively).

In addition to commonly measured sites (spine, hip), mcBMD of cancellous bone is heterogeneously distributed throughout the entire skeleton. Heterogeneity may be further affected in the cancer patient. Further studies will be required to validate site specific correlations in larger populations and to utilize it for predicting BMD for unknown sites from sites that are scanned for clinical reasons.

These findings suggest potential for developing a skeletal heterogeneity model in further prospective studies, which could identify abnormalities in patients who deviate from the model.

Arentsen, L, Yagi, M, Takahashi, Y, Yee, D, Hui, S, In situ Assessment Reveals Skeletal-wide Heterogeneity of Human Cancellous Bone.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14016105.html