Dual energy CT and research of the bone marrow edema: Comparison with MRI imaging

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) in the research of the bone marrow edema. Methods and Material: The MRI images of 100 patients with episodes of articular and or bone pains with or without traumatic lesion were prospectively evaluated during a period between March 2018 and February 2019. In the presence of bone marrow edema, a DECT was performed. The measurement of the density of the bone marrow edema in the DECT was compared with healthy bone in the same patient by two operators. Result: The DECT and MRI images of 15 patients with bone marrow edema were compared. The mean of pathologic bone marrow edema was 1008.20 (Standard Deviation (SD) 23.00), for healthy bone marrow 947.53 (SD 16.42), and t = 11.75, with a statistical significance P < 0.05 (Statistical significance 95%). The agreement between the measurements of the two radiologists has a statistical significance (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The DECT presents an excellent diagnostic accuracy to detect the bone marrow edema, comparable to MRI. The utility of these recent possibilities is maximum where access to MRI is still very difficult.

The Clinical Utility of Lower Extremity Dual-Energy CT Angiography in the Detection of Bone Marrow Edema in Diabetic Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease

“…While the current literature mainly focused on the advantages of DE-CTA in the evaluation of arterial lumen, in the estimation of arterial stenosis and in-stent patency evaluation, its ability to recognize lower limbs BME in diabetic patients with PAD has been poorly investigated [ 12 , 13 , 24 , 25 , 39 , 43 ]. The abnormal fluid signal within the bone marrow, routinely detected on MRI, is a nonspecific, yet important, finding suggestive of underlying bone inflammation in non-traumatic diabetic patients [ 33 , 36 , 40 , 43 , 44 ]. Third-generation DECT and its advanced material decomposition algorithms may be an alternative tool in assessing BME due to their good diagnostic performance compared to MRI [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”

“…Compared to MRI, VNCa showed similar results in detecting BME, either in traumatic or non-traumatic settings [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. BME is commonly developed by diabetic patients with PAD, most likely due to both infectious or dysmetabolic non-medullary osteitis and infectious involvement of the medullary cavity, also known as osteomyelitis [ 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”

The Diagnostic Performance of Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) in Depiction of Acute Spondylodiscitis in an Emergency Department

“…DECT has excellent diagnostic accuracy for detecting bone marrow edema, comparable to MRI. The utility of these recent possibilities is greatest where access to MRI is still very difficult [ 28 ]. However, this innovative CT technology is not yet widely available, especially in emergency departments, unlike MDCT.…”

Bone Marrow Edema

“…This research received no external funding. n Umberto Tarantino, MD 1,2 Chiara Greggi, PhD 1,3 Ida Cariati, PhD 1,3 Patrizio Caldora, MD 4 Rodolfo Capanna, MD 5 Antonio Capone, MD 6 Roberto Civinini, MD 7 Stefano Colagrande, MD 8 Pietro De Biase, MD 9 Francesco Falez, MD 10 Giovanni Iolascon, MD 11 Davide Maraghelli, MD 8 Laura Masi, MD 12 Marco Matucci Cerinic, MD 13 Giuseppe Sessa, MD 14 Maria L. Brandi, MD 15…”

“…1). It is a nonspecific but relevant finding, usually indicating the presence of an underlying pathological condition 6 . Currently, another term used to refer to this condition is edema-like marrow signal intensity , which indicates a histopathological diagnosis characterized by the presence of an eosinophilic bone marrow extracellular fluid and swollen fat cells 7 .…”