Ferumoxides-enhanced quantitative magnetic resonance imaging of the normaland abnormal bone marrow: Preliminary assessment

The purpose of our study was to assess the effects of intravenous administr ation of ferumoxides on normal and abnormal vertebral bone marrow T-1 and T -2 relaxation times. Changes in bulk T1 and T2 relaxation times induced by intravenous administration of ferumoxides were determined in the normal ver tebral marrow of two healthy subjects and four patients, In the four patien ts, changes in bulk T1 and T2 values induced by furomoxides injection were also determined in 12 vertebral metastases, Relative to precontrast relaxat ion time values, bulk T1 and T2 values of normal bone marrow had declined b y a mean of 24% and 19%, respectively, In the two subjects and the four pat ients 45 minutes after ferumoxides administration, Relative to precontrast values. bulk T1 and T2 values of abnormal bone marrow had decreased by a me an of 16% and 2%, respectively, Decreases in bulk T1 and T2 values in norma l bone marrow and in bulk T1 values in metastases were statistically signif icant (p < 0.001), Changes in bulk T2 values observed in metastases were no t statistically significant. Quantitative MRI demonstrates that ferumoxides infusion induces a decrease in bulk T1 and T2 relaxation times of normal b one marrow, It also suggests a lack of T2 shortening in bone metastases. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;9:322-328, (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.