Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging of vertebral bodies: a T1 and T2 study.

Multiple point T1 and T2 values of 424 vertebral bodies were measured and analysed. The influence of several factors including age, sex, location in the spine and status of neighbouring discs on the measured relaxation times were evaluated. The results indicate limitations in the region of interest approach. Vertebral bodies of different age, sex and location in the spine could not be distinguished. For heterogeneous tissues a more advanced form of image analysis appears to be essential. Diurnal factors resulting from the stress of normal ambulatory activity caused increased variation in vertebral body relaxation time values.