In Vivo Quantification of Cortical Bone Water with Ultrashort Echo-Time MR Imaging: A New Parameter to Measure Bone Quality?

摘要

In this issue of Radiology, Techawiboonwong et al (1) report on a method to quantify water content of cortical bone by using ultrashort echo-time radial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, which may be used as a surrogate marker for cortical bone porosity. The investigators validated the technique in cortical bone specimens before using it clinically at the tibial midshaft in healthy pre- and postmenopausal women and in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. In vitro, the investigators found excellent agreement with cortical water assessed with an isotope exchange experiment. In vivo, substantial differences in cortical bone water between the three subject groups were found.