MRI Morphometry of Vertebral Bodies and Intervertebral Discs of the Lumbar Spine in Patients with Bone Mineral Density Disorders

Abstract

Summary. The objective of the investigation — to study the changes of the vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs and their area in the lumbar spine in the reduction of bone mineral density (BMD) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 81 patients underwent dual-energy X-ray densitometry (DEXA) and MRI of lumbar spine. Osteopenia was diagnosed in 33 patients (II group), osteoporosis — in 28 (group III), and control group consisted of 20 patients (I group) without signs of osteoporosis (according to DEXA). The average BMD parameters (g/cm2) in L1-L4 bodies were: in healthy people — 1.232 ± 0.060; in osteopenia — –1.032 ± 0.070; in osteoporosis — –0.757 ± ± 0.080. The average T-score in the control group was –1.27 ± 0.71; in the II group with osteopenia — –1.40 ± 0.11; in the III group with osteoporosis — –3.09 ± 1.73. The difference in BMD between I and II groups was 16.2 % (p < 0.05), between I and III groups — 25 % (p < 0.01). MRI morphometry in patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis has shown that changes in vertebral bodies of the lumbar spine were accompanied by the reduction of the average height of the bo­dies, slight decrease of the anterior height of vertebral bo­dies; the reduction of the Barnett-Nordin index; significant increase in the average height and area of intervertebral discs, more pronounced in patients with osteoporosis. It was found that in patients with bone mineral density disorders, there were degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs, and the degree of their degeneration was not significantly different from the control group.

Keywords

• bone mineral density
• osteopenia
• osteoporosis
• MRI morphometry