Water proton density in human cortical bone obtained from ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI predicts bone microstructural properties.

ABSTRACT: PURPOSE:To investigate the correlations between cortical bone microstructural properties and total water proton density (TWPD) obtained from three-dimensional ultrashort echo time Cones (3D-UTE-Cones) magnetic resonance imaging techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS:135 cortical bone samples were harvested from human tibial and femoral midshafts of 37 donors (61 ± 24 years old). Samples were scanned using 3D-UTE-Cones sequences on a clinical 3T MRI and on a high-resolution micro-computed tomography (?CT) scanner. TWPD was measured using 3D-UTE-Cones MR images. Average bone porosity, pore size, and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured from ?CT images at 9 ?m voxel size. Pearson's correlation coefficients between TWPD and ?CT-based measures were calculated. RESULTS:TWPD showed significant moderate correlation with both average bone porosity (R = 0.66, p < 0.01) and pore size (R = 0.57, p < 0.01). TWPD also showed significant strong correction with BMD (R = 0.71, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS:The presented 3D-UTE-Cones imaging technique allows assessment of TWPD in human cortical bone. This quick UTE-MRI-based technique was capable of predicting bone microstructure differences with significant correlations. Such correlations highlight the potential of UTE-MRI-based measurement of bone water proton density to assess bone microstructure.

SUBMITTER: Jerban S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7276204 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature