Application of DIXON MRI sequencing in the diagnosis of changes in the spongy substance of vertebral bodies in comparison with osteodensitometry data

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the patterns of changes in the fat fraction of the vertebral bodies according to the modified DIXON protocol (mDixon, MRI) in patients of different age groups with densitometry data.Materials and methods. In the course of our study, a Siemens Magnetom Verio 3T tomograph was used for diagnostics, for assessing the condition of the vertebrae of the lumbosacral spine, measuring FF, a computer program was used: “RadiAnt DICOM viewer”. DIXON (two-point) parameters of TSE pulse train with T2 type of weighting: TR 4000 ms, TE 88 ms, slice thickness 4 mm, matrix 320 × 320, NEX 1, FOV 260 × 260 mm, pixel size 0.8 × 0.8 mm, bandwidth 345 Hz/pixel. Scanning time: 3 min. 50 sec. We also used a GE Lunar Prodigy densitometer. Measurement parameters: mode – standard (13–25 cm), length 19.1 cm, width 18.0 cm. Method: mDixon.Results. 71 patients were examined (average age is 57 years; average BMI (body mass index): 27.94). Osteopenia was diagnosed in 21 patients, osteoporosis – in 13. Bone mineral density (BMD) was obtained using X-ray densitometry, which served as a reference for detecting abnormal bone density and osteoporosis. A comparison was made of BMD values in patients with normal and patients with osteoporosis / osteopenia: the values in patients with normal were 21.85% higher than in patients with osteoporosis / osteopenia. We also compared the parameters of vertebral fat density (FF) in patients with normal and pathology – the values in patients with normal were 15.65% less than in patients with pathology. Correlation analysis revealed a relationship between BMD and FF parameters. According to the results of the morphometry of the vertebral bodies, wedge-shaped deformity of the vertebral bodies was revealed in 8% of patients with osteoporosis / osteopenia.Conclusions. The MRI method based on the DIXON trace is of great importance in the diagnosis of changes in the spongy substance of the vertebral bodies. In the study of correlation analysis, an inverse relationship was found between the BMD and FF parameters.