Griffith JF et al. – Bone marrow perfusion throughout the proximal femur is reduced in osteoporotic subjects compared to osteopenic and normal subjects, and this reduction affects only bone but not the tissues outside of bone. There is a strong inverse relationship between decreased bone marrow perfusion and increased marrow fat content. Methods
This study investigates the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD), bone marrow fat content, bone perfusion and muscle perfusion
120 healthy female subjects (mean age 74 yrs; age range, 67-89 yrs)
All subjects underwent dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examination of the hip, proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy, and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the right proximal femur, acetabulum and adductor thigh muscle
Results
In all bone areas examined, perfusion indices were significantly reduced in subjects with osteoporosis vs subjects with osteopenia or normal BMD
Adductor muscle perfusion was not affected by change in BMD
As marrow perfusion decreased in the proximal femur, marrow fat increased
For normal bone density subjects, perfusion parameters in the femoral head were one-third of those in the femoral neck or shaft and one-fifth of those in the acetabulum
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