T2 RELAXATION-TIME OF BONE-MARROW WATER AND LIPID - CORRELATION WITH SERUM FERRITIN IN NORMAL INDIVIDUALS

Purpose: This study investigated the correlation bet ii,een the iron c ontent of bone marrow and the transverse relaxation times (T2 values) of bone marrow water and lipid on MRI. Method: The T2 of the water and lipid fractions of bone marrow was selectively measured in the L1-3 v ertebral bodies using the chemical shift misregistration effect on MRI . Results were compared to the serum ferritin levels in 27 healthy sub jects. Results: The 1/T2 of the water fraction was strongly correlated with the serum ferritin, but there was no correlation between the 1/T 2 of the lipid fraction and serum ferritin. Conclusion: Selective T2 m easurement of the water fraction in bone marrow allows precise estimat ion of the marrow iron content.