Assessment of trabecular bone structure with magnetic resonance T2 relaxation time in osteoporosis

Abstract

Objective: This study was planned to investigate the utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI in assessing osteoporosis in a quantitative manner by evaluating bone micro architecture and to assess the correlation between MRI measurements and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 31 postmenopausal osteoporotic women and control group consisted of 31 healthy postmenopausal women with normal bone mineral density (BMD). BMD measurements were performed with DXA at spine and at femur. The MRI T2 relaxation time (T2 RT) measurements were performed at lumbar 3 (L3) vertebra and calcaneus. The results of L3 vertebra DXA measurements of the postmenopausal subjects were compared with L3 vertebra MRI T2 RT and caicaneus T2 RT. Results: There was a significant difference between postmenopausal women with normal BMD and those with low BMD regarding the T2 RT of L3 vertebra and caicaneus (p<0.001). We found a negative correlation between L3 vertebra BMD and L3 vertebra T2 RT and caicaneal T2 RT. There was a positive correlation between L3 vertebra T2 RT and calcaneal T2 RT. Conclusion: The MRI results obtained by this technique were found to be correlated with the DXA results. It seems to be possible to discriminate postmenopausal osteoporotic and healthy women with MR T2 RT which assess trabecular bone structure.