TY - JOUR

T1 - Quantifying the bone marrow composition of the healthy adult wrist with dual-energy CT

AU - Müller, Felix C.

AU - Gosvig, Kasper K.

AU - Østergaard, Mikkel

AU - Roed, Bjarne

AU - Rodell, Anders

AU - Børgesen, Henrik

AU - Krauss, Bernhard

AU - Gade, Jesper S.

AU - Boesen, Mikael

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Purpose: Purpose of this study was to investigate Dual-energy CT (DECT) derived virtual non-calcium (VNCa) values for absolute quantification of the bone marrow composition in the wrist. Materials and Methods: We prospectively included consecutive adult participants and examined their wrists with DECT. Ranges of VNCa and calcium values were measured in the carpal bones, radius and ulna using a semi-automatic method. Bones with bone marrow edema, assessed by two blinded radiologists, were excluded. After determining optimum parameters for the three-material decomposition, the influence of calcium values, age and sex on VNCa values was assessed using multiple linear regression. Results: 41 participants (Median age 53 years, range 20 years – 88 years, 51 % men) were enrolled and 399 bones assessed. At participant level mean VNCa values were -143 HU (SD 14 HU) using the current parameters for three-material decomposition and -104HU (SD 11 HU) with optimized parameters. There was a strong and significant influence of calcium values on VNCa values with the current parameters (p < 0.001, -0.137 HU[VNCa] / HU[Calcium]). With optimized parameters the calcium values and sex were not statistically significant predictors of VNCa values. Age was a significant, but clinically negligible, predictor (p = 0.03, -0.225 HU / year). Conclusions: After optimizing three-material decomposition parameters, calcium values, age and sex do not substantially influence virtual non-calcium values, and DECT may therefore be used for absolute quantification of the bone marrow composition - alleviating the need for reference bones or groups.

AB - Purpose: Purpose of this study was to investigate Dual-energy CT (DECT) derived virtual non-calcium (VNCa) values for absolute quantification of the bone marrow composition in the wrist. Materials and Methods: We prospectively included consecutive adult participants and examined their wrists with DECT. Ranges of VNCa and calcium values were measured in the carpal bones, radius and ulna using a semi-automatic method. Bones with bone marrow edema, assessed by two blinded radiologists, were excluded. After determining optimum parameters for the three-material decomposition, the influence of calcium values, age and sex on VNCa values was assessed using multiple linear regression. Results: 41 participants (Median age 53 years, range 20 years – 88 years, 51 % men) were enrolled and 399 bones assessed. At participant level mean VNCa values were -143 HU (SD 14 HU) using the current parameters for three-material decomposition and -104HU (SD 11 HU) with optimized parameters. There was a strong and significant influence of calcium values on VNCa values with the current parameters (p < 0.001, -0.137 HU[VNCa] / HU[Calcium]). With optimized parameters the calcium values and sex were not statistically significant predictors of VNCa values. Age was a significant, but clinically negligible, predictor (p = 0.03, -0.225 HU / year). Conclusions: After optimizing three-material decomposition parameters, calcium values, age and sex do not substantially influence virtual non-calcium values, and DECT may therefore be used for absolute quantification of the bone marrow composition - alleviating the need for reference bones or groups.

KW - Bone marrow

KW - Bone marrow oedema

KW - Dual-energy computed tomography

KW - Multidetector computed tomography

KW - Scaphoid

KW - Wrist

U2 - 10.1016/j.ejrad.2021.109725

DO - 10.1016/j.ejrad.2021.109725

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33878568

AN - SCOPUS:85104292617

VL - 139

JO - European Journal of Radiology

JF - European Journal of Radiology

SN - 0720-048X

M1 - 109725

ER -