AGE-RELATED-CHANGES IN MARROW DISTRIBUTION IN THE SHOULDER - MR-IMAGING FINDINGS

PURPOSE: To define age-specific patterns of distribution of red and ye llow marrow about the shoulder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Red and yellow marrow distribution was reviewed on magnetic resonance images of 189 s ubjects aged 15-69 years. Double-echo and fast spin-echo, gradient, an d short inversion time inversion recovery pulse sequences were used. T he acromion, glenoid, and proximal humeral epiphysis, metaphysis, and diaphysis in each shoulder were graded semiquantitatively and qualitat ively. RESULTS: There was a wide variation in the normal pattern of re d-yellow marrow distribution both among subjects and among locations. All five anatomic locations showed an orderly progression from greater to lesser amounts of red marrow with increasing age. Many of the subj ects had focal subchondral red marrow in the epiphysis, which was asso ciated with patient age (P = .0001) and gender (P = .04). CONCLUSION: Knowledge of normal patterns of marrow distribution can prevent their being misinterpreted as marrow-based disease.