T2, Carr-Purcell T2 and T1rho of fat and water as surrogate markers of trabecular bone structure.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques have been developed for non-invasive assessment of the structural properties of trabecular bone. These measurements, however, suffer from relatively long acquisition times and low resolution compared to the trabecular size. Spectroscopic measurement of relaxation times could be applied for more detailed and faster assessment of relaxation properties of bone marrow and also provide surrogate information on trabecular structure. In the present study, bovine trabecular bone was investigated with spectroscopic NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) methods to determine the relationship between structural parameters as measured with micro-CT and T(2), Carr-Purcell T(2) and T(1rho) relaxation times of fat and water. To compare bone with a sample matrix with magnetic susceptibility interfaces, phantoms consisting of glass beads with different diameters in oil or water were used. The behavior of T(2) measured with different sequences and T(1rho) at different magnitudes of spin-lock fields were characterized, and relaxation times were correlated with structural parameters. T(2) and T(1rho) showed significant associations with structural bone parameters. Strongest linear correlations (r = 0.81, p < 0.01) were established between R(1rho) (1/T(1rho)) of fat component and structural model index. For glass beads, the behavior of T(2) and T(1rho) was similar to that of the water compartment of bone marrow. The present results suggest feasibility of spectroscopic NMR measurements to assess trabecular structure. However, further studies are required to determine the sensitivity of this approach to fat content of bone marrow and to lower the field strengths used in clinical devices.