The role of Fast spin-echo T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted imaging for spine bone marrow changes evaluation in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Abstract

Abstract Background To prospectively investigate the role of Fast spin-echo T2-weighted (FSE T2-w) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting spine bone marrow changes in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (OP). A total of 101 postmenopausal women, mean age of 60.97 ± 7.41 (range 52–68) years old, who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry of the spine, were invited to this study and divided into three bone density (normal, osteopenic, and osteoporotic) groups based on T-score. After that MRI scan with both FSE T2-w and DWI of the vertebral body was done to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Finally, MRI findings were compared in patients, between three groups and correlated with bone marrow density. Results The osteoporotic group showed significantly lower mean ADC values, compared to osteopenic and normal groups (0.58 ± 0.02 vs. 0.36 ± 0.05 vs. 0.24 ± 0.06 × 10–3 mm2/s, p 0.05). Conclusions DWI can be used as a noninvasive, quantitative, and valuable technique for OP evaluation. While, routine MRI needs more investigation to be demonstrated as a reliable diagnostic indicator for OP.

Keywords

• Osteoporosis
• Lumbar spine
• Diffusion-weighted imaging
• T2-weighted image
• Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry