Gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging of epiphyseal and metaphyseal marrow in normal piglets

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to define the appearance of normal epiphyseal and metaphyseal marrow and normal changes of marrow due to fatty conversion on Gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced MR Imaging. Unenhanced and enhanced T1-weighted MR imaging were performed in proximal and distal femoral ends of 8 healthy piglets at the ages of 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, respectively. The changes with age in signal intensity and enhancement ratio of the epiphyseal and metaphyseal marrow with age were examined. The correlation of MRI characteristics with histological findings was studied. Our study showed that marrow of the metaphysis and of periphery of the 2nd ossification center were well vascularized hematopoietic marrow and had great enhancements. The enhancement ratio of metaphysis was greater than that of epiphyseal marrow and both enhancement ratios degraded gradually with age. The central regions of the epiphyseal ossification center and of the diaphysis were of fatty marrow and had little enhancement. It is concluded that on Gd-enhanced MR imaging the hematopoietic marrow of metaphysis and of periphery of the 2nd ossification center had greater enhancement than that of fatty marrow of central region of the 2nd ossification center. All of their enhancements decreased gradually with age.

Keywords

growth and development / epiphyseal / magnetic resonance imaging

References

[1] DawsonK L, MooreS G, RowlandJ M. Age-related marrow changes in the pelvis: MR and anatomic findings. Radiology, 1992, 183(1): 47-47

[2] MooreS G, DawsonK L. Red and yellow marrow in the femur: age-related changes in appearance at MR imaging. Radiology, 1990, 175(1): 219-219

[3] ZawinJ K, JaramilloD. Conversion of bone marrow in the humerus, sternum, and clavicle changes with age in MR images. Radiology, 1993, 188(1): 159-159

[4] VogerJ B, MurphyW A. Bone marrow imaging. Radiology, 1988, 168(3): 679-679

[5] DwekJ R, ShapiroF, LaorT, et al.. Normal Gadolinium-enhanced MR images of the developing appendicular skeleton: part 2 epiphyseal and metaphyseal marrow. AJR, 1997, 169(1): 191-191

[6] DangmanB C, HofferF A, RandF F, et al.. Osteomyelitis in children: gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging. Radiology, 1992, 182(3): 743-743

[7] GeirnaerdtM J, BloemJ L, EulderingF, et al.. Cartilagious tumors: correlation of gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging and histopathologic findings. Radiology, 1993, 186(3): 813-813

[8] DucouleP H, HaddadS, SilbermanB, et al.. Legg-Perthescalve disease staging by MRI using gadolinium. Pediatr Radiol, 1994, 24(2): 88-88