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Normal Spinal Bone Marrow in Adults: Dynamic Gadolinium-enhanced MR Imaging¹

¹ From the Departments of Radiology (J.L.M., H.K., A.R.), Hematology (M.D.), and Biostatistics (E.L.), Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Henri Mondor, 51 avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94010 Créteil, France; and MR Division, Siemens France, Saint-Denis, France (S.B.). Supported by the Association pour la Recherche contre le Cancer. Received June 18, 2002; revision requested August 20; final revision received March 13, 2003; accepted May 5. Address correspondence to A.R. (e-mail: alain.rahmouni@hmn.ap-hop-paris.fr).

PURPOSE: To determine the patterns of dynamic enhancement of normal spinal bone marrow in adults at gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and the changes that occur with aging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dynamic contrast material–enhanced MR imaging of the thoracolumbar spine was performed in 71 patients. The maximum percentage of enhancement (E_max), enhancement slope, and enhancement washout were determined from bone marrow enhancement time curves (ETCs). The bone marrow signal intensity on T1-weighted spin-echo MR images was qualitatively classified into three grade categories. Quantitative ETC values were correlated with patient age and bone marrow fat content grade. Statistical analysis included mean t test comparison, analysis of variance, and regression analysis of the correlations between age and quantitative MR parameters.

RESULTS: E_max, slope, and washout varied widely among the patients. E_max values were obtained within 1 minute after contrast material injection and ranged from 0% to 430%. E_max values were significantly higher in patients younger than 40 years than in those aged 40 years or older (P < .001). These values decreased with increasing age in a logarithmic relationship (r = 0.71). E_max values decreased as fat content increased, but some overlap among the fat content grades was noted. Analysis of variance revealed that E_max was significantly related to age (younger than 40 years vs 40 years or older) (P < .001) and fat content grade (P < .001) but not significantly related to sex.

CONCLUSION: Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging patterns of normal spinal bone marrow are dependent mainly on patient age and fat content.

© RSNA, 2003

Index terms: Aging • Bone marrow, 321.121411 • Bone marrow, MR, 321.121411, 321.121413, 321.121416, 321.12143 • Magnetic resonance (MR), contrast enhancement, 321.12143

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