In vivo measurement reproducibility of femoral neck microarchitectural parameters derived from 3T MR images

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the within-day and between-day measurement reproducibility of in vivo 3-D MRI assessment of trabecular bone microarchitecture of the proximal femur. Materials and Methods This HIPPA compliant, IRB approved study was conducted on eleven healthy subjects (mean age = 57.4 ± 14.1 years) with written informed consent. All subjects underwent a 3T MRI hip scan in vivo (0.234 mm × 0.234 mm × 1.5 mm) at three time points: baseline, second scan same day (intra-scan), and third scan one week later (inter-scan). We applied digital topological analysis and volumetric topological analysis to compute the following microarchitectural parameters within the femoral neck: total bone volume, bone volume fraction, markers of trabecular number (skeleton density), connectivity (junctions), plate-like structure (surfaces), plate width, and trabecular thickness. Reproducibility was assessed using root-mean-square coefficient of variation (RMS-CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results The within-day RMS-CVs ranged from 2.3% to 7.8%, and the between-day RMS-CVs ranged from 4.0% to 7.3% across all parameters. The within-day ICCs ranged from 0.931 to 0.989, and the between-day ICCs ranged from 0.934 to 0.971 across all parameters. Conclusion These results demonstrate high reproducibility for trabecular bone microarchitecture measures derived from 3-T MR images of the proximal femur. The measurement reproducibility is within a range suitable for clinical cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in osteoporosis.

3-T MR Imaging of Proximal Femur Microarchitecture in Subjects with and without Fragility Fracture and Nonosteoporotic Proximal Femur Bone Mineral Density

“…Assessment of the hip is advantageous not only because the hip is a clinically important fracture site, but also because it allows direct comparison with DXA measurement of BMD, which is performed in the hip as standard-ofcare diagnostic testing. The reproducibility of MR imaging-based microarchitectural analysis in the proximal femur by using this method has been reported previously with root mean square coefficients of variation less than or equal to 7.8% and intraclass correlation coeffficents greater than or equal to 0.931 (40). Because the imaging was performed with a clinical 3-T MR imager and by using a widely available product sequence and a commercially available coil, the method could be implemented widely, even in the nontertiary care or outpatient setting and without the need for special software or hardware modifications.…”

Assessment of porosity index of the femoral neck and tibia by 3D ultra‐short echo‐time MRI

“…Motion artifacts were observed on several images, which decreased the accuracy of identifying the cortical boundaries. Therefore, approaches to reduce motion artifacts such as the use of assistant straps to minimize the patient's mobility or motion‐correction techniques should be implemented in the future. Fourth, cortical porosity is not only regulated by age, gender, BMI, and menopause status, but also related to physical activity or exercise, diet, and other lifestyle factors, which could be confounding factors when analyzing the correlations among parameters.…”

MRI assessment of bone structure and microarchitecture

“…More recently, Chang et al and Hotca et al investigated the reproducibility of quantitative assessment of microarchitectural and mechanical parameters (computed with linear FEA) in the proximal femur at 3T (11-12 subjects, three scans, twice on 1 day and once 1 week later, 3D FLASH, 0.234 3 0.234 3 1.5 mm). 119,120 For microarchitectural parameters, within-day root-mean-square CVs/ICCs ranged from 2.3-7.8%/0.931-0.989 and between-day root mean square CVs/ICC ranged from 4.0-7.3%/0.934-0.971. For mechanical parameters, within and between day root mean square CVs/ICCs ranged from 3.5-6.6%/0.96-0.98.…”