Comparative Study Of Ct And 1.5 Tesla Mri In Quantitative Estimation Of Bone Mineral Density In Lumbar Spine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63682/jns.v14i32S.7506Keywords:
Bone Mineral Density (BMD), Lumbar Spine, Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT), 1.5 Tesla MRI, Hounsfield Units (HU), T1-weighted ImagingAbstract
The effectiveness of 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) for determining bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine of 44 patients (22 males, 22 females; mean age 46.02 ± 11.14 years) from Western Uttar Pradesh was compared in this prospective cross-sectional study, which was carried out at Teerthanker Mahaveer Hospital and Research Centre in Moradabad, India. Hounsfield Units (HU), QCT-derived BMD, and MRI signal intensities (T1-weighted, T2-weighted, gradient echo) among the L1–L5 vertebrae were among the measurements. Significant age-related differences (p < 0.05) were noted in T1, T2, HU, and QCT-BMD at particular lumbar levels, but no significant gender differences were reported in imaging parameters or BMD (p > 0.05). The sensitivity of MRI to bone marrow changes was demonstrated by Pearson correlation analysis, which revealed negative correlations between T1/T2 signal intensities and QCT-BMD and positive correlations between HU and QCT-BMD. 50% gender prediction accuracy was attained via binary logistic regression (100% for females, 0% for males). Despite drawbacks such geographical bias and small sample size, the results demonstrate MRI's potential as a radiation-free substitute for DEXA and validate CT's dependability for BMD evaluation. To improve diagnostic accuracy, future research should investigate larger cohorts and more sophisticated MRI techniques.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Imaging C. History of the CT scan [Internet]. Mobile CT Rental - Mobile Imaging Rental And Lease. Catalina Imaging Inc.; 2019 [cited 2025 May 26]. Available from: https://catalinaimaging.com/history-ct-scan/
Honorary Senior Lecturer Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences Medical Image Optimization and Perception Group Faculty of Health Sciences University of Sydney Sydney Australia Adjunct Associate Professor Department of Radiatio Euclid Seeram. Computed tomography - Elsevier eBook on vitalsource (retail access card): Physical principles, clinical applications, and quality control. 3rd ed. Saunders; 2008.
Kranioti EF, Bonicelli A, García-Donas JG. Bone-mineral density: clinical significance, methods of quantification and forensic applications. Res Rep Forensic Med Sci [Internet]. 2019;9:9–21. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/rrfms.s164933
Kenhub.com. [cited 2025 May 26]. Available from: https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/bones.
Kenhub.com. [cited 2025 May 26]. Available from: https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/histology-of-bone.
Osteopenia [Internet]. Cleveland Clinic. 2021 [cited 2025 May 26]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic. org/health/diseases/21855-osteopenia
Sözen T, Özışık L, Başaran NÇ. An overview and management of osteoporosis. Eur J Rheumatol [Internet]. 2017;4(1):46–56. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.5152/eurjrheum.2016.048
Engelke K, Adams JE, Armbrecht G, Augat P, Bogado CE, Bouxsein ML, et al. Clinical use of quantitative computed tomography and peripheral quantitative computed tomography in the management of osteoporosis in adults: the 2007 ISCD Official Positions. J Clin Densitom [Internet]. 2008;11(1):123–62. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10 .1016/j.jocd.2007.12.010
Lorente-Ramos R, Azpeitia-Armán J, Muñoz-Hernández A, García-Gómez JM, Díez-Martínez P, Grande-Bárez M. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in the diagnosis of osteoporosis: a practical guide. AJR Am J Roentgenol [Internet]. 2011;196(4):897–904. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2214/AJR.10.5416
Centre PEDS. T SCORE. In: Available: Providence Endocrine & Diabetes Specialty Centre. 2022.
Americanbonehealth.org. [cited 2025 May 26]. Available from: https://americanbonehealth.org/bone-density/ understanding-the-
Gogate Y, Bhadada SK. FRAX: Facts and fantasy. Indian J Endocrinol Metab [Internet]. 2012;16(Suppl 2):S224-6. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/2230-8210.104044
Perry S. Magnetic resonance imaging : principles, methods, and techniques. Medical Physics Pub. 2000;173.
Westbrook C, Roth CK. MRI in Practice. 4th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell; 2013.
Schreiber JJ, Anderson PA, Rosas HG, Buchholz AL, Au AG. Hounsfield units for assessing bone mineral density and strength: a tool for osteoporosis management. J Bone Joint Surg Am [Internet]. 2011;93(11):1057–63. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.J.00160
Yu EW, Thomas BJ, Brown JK, Finkelstein JS. Simulated increases in body fat and errors in bone mineral density measurements by DXA and QCT. J Bone Miner Res [Internet]. 2012;27(1):119–24. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.506
Koyama H, Yoshihara H, Kotera M, Tamura T, Sugimura K. The quantitative diagnostic capability of routine MR imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging in osteoporosis patients. Clin Imaging [Internet]. 2013;37(5):925–9. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clinimag.2013.05.001
Youn I, Lee HY, Kim JK. Correlation between vertebral marrow fat fraction measured using Dixon quantitative chemical shift MRI and BMD value on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. J Korean Soc Magn Reson Med [Internet]. 2012;16(1):16. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.13104/jksmrm.2012.16.1.16
Pickhardt PJ, Pooler BD, Lauder T, del Rio AM, Bruce RJ, Binkley N. Opportunistic screening for osteoporosis using abdominal computed tomography scans obtained for other indications. Ann Intern Med [Internet]. 2013;158(8):588–95. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-158-8-201304160-00003
Emohare O, Cagan A, Morgan R, Davis R, Asis M, Switzer J, et al. The use of computed tomography attenuation to evaluate osteoporosis following acute fractures of the thoracic and lumbar vertebra. Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil [Internet]. 2014;5(2):50–5. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2151458514525042
Bandirali M, Di Leo G, Papini GDE, Messina C, Sconfienza LM, Ulivieri FM, et al. A new diagnostic score to detect osteoporosis in patients undergoing lumbar spine MRI. Eur Radiol [Internet]. 2015;25(10):2951–9. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-3699-y
Choi MK, Kim SM, Lim JK. Diagnostic efficacy of Hounsfield units in spine CT for the assessment of real bone mineral density of degenerative spine: correlation study between T-scores determined by DEXA scan and Hounsfield units from CT. Acta Neurochir (Wien) [Internet]. 2016;158(7):1421–7. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1007/s00701-016-2821-5
Kumar R, Dahiya M, Yadav K, Dahiya R. Comparative study of DEXA and 1.5 Tesla MRI in quantitative estimation of bone mineral density in lumbar spine. 2020 [cited 2025 May 26]; Available from: https://www.ijrrjournal. com/IJRR_Vol.6_Issue.8_Aug2019/IJRR0010.pdf
Xu X-M, Li N, Li K, Li X-Y, Zhang P, Xuan Y-J, et al. Discordance in diagnosis of osteoporosis by quantitative computed tomography and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in Chinese elderly men. J Orthop Translat [Internet]. 2019;18:59–64. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jot.2018.11.003
Shayganfar A, Khodayi M, Ebrahimian S, Tabrizi Z. Quantitative diagnosis of osteoporosis using lumbar spine signal intensity in magnetic resonance imaging. Br J Radiol [Internet]. 2019;92(1097):20180774. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1259/bjr.20180774
Saad MM, Ahmed AT, Mohamed KE, Habba MR. Role of lumbar spine signal intensity measurement by MRI in the diagnosis of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Egypt J Radiol Nucl Med [Internet]. 2019;50(1). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s43055-019-0046-3
Kim KJ, Kim DH, Lee JI, Choi BK, Han IH, Nam KH. Hounsfield units on lumbar computed tomography for predicting regional bone mineral density. Open Med (Warsz) [Internet]. 2019;14(1):545–51. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/med-2019-0061
Zou D, Li W, Xu F, Du G. Use of Hounsfield units of S1 body to diagnose osteoporosis in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases. Neurosurg Focus [Internet]. 2019;46(5):E6. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10. 3171/2019.2.focus18614
Raghu SR, Sachin T, ShanKa Ra K, Ran BRS. Evaluation of bone mineral density using quantitative computed tomography in pre- and post-menopausal women: A retrospective cross-sectional study [Internet]. Available from: https://www.ijars.net/articles/PDF/2599/46826_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_PF1(AG_SHU)_PFA(SHU)_PB(AG_SHU)_PN(SHU).pdf
Elarjani T, Warner T, Nguyen K, Nguyen S, Urakov TM. Quantifying bone quality using computed tomography Hounsfield units in the mid-sagittal view of the lumbar spine. World Neurosurg [Internet]. 2021;151:e418–25. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2021.04.051
Buenger F, Sakr Y, Eckardt N, Senft C, Schwarz F. Correlation of quantitative computed tomography derived bone density values with Hounsfield units of a contrast medium computed tomography in 98 thoraco-lumbar vertebral bodies. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg [Internet]. 2022;142(11):3335–40. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/ s00402-021-04184-5
Liu Z, Huang D, Jiang Y, Ma X, Zhang Y, Chang R. Correlation of R2* with fat fraction and bone mineral density and its role in quantitative assessment of osteoporosis. Eur Radiol [Internet]. 2023;33(9):6001–8. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00330-023-09599-9
Hammood AH, Ahmed SB, Hassan QA. Comparison between quantitative computed tomography and dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry in the detection of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Al-Kindy Col Med J [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2025 May 26];19(1):90–4. Available from: https://jkmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/MEDICAL/article/ view/864
Pu M, Zhang B, Zhu Y, Zhong W, Shen Y, Zhang P. Hounsfield unit for evaluating bone mineral density and strength: Variations in measurement methods. World Neurosurg [Internet]. 2023;180:e56–68. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2023.07.146
Bisht A. Assessment of lumbar disc degeneration in post menopause women’s using 1.5t MRI: A review study. African Journal of Biomedical Research [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Jun 12];27(3S):438–42. Available from: https://africanjournalofbiomedicalresearch.com/index.php/AJBR/article/view/2015
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.