Bone marrow cellularity MRI calculation and correlation with bone marrow biopsy ★

PurposeTo calculate bone marrow cellularity from MRI and correlate with bone marrow biopsy.MethodsTwenty-seven lymphoma patients with staging bone marrow biopsies and lumbar MRI were reviewed. Cellularity was calculated from T1 signal intensity measurements=100 – {[(marrow – CSF)/(subcutaneous fat – CSF)] X 100}.ResultsThe histologic cellularities demonstrated significant correlation with iliac bone MRI cellularity (r= 0.59, P= .001). Cellularities increased from T11 to S1. Cellularity decreased with age=67.6 – (age X 0.36).ConclusionsMarrow cellularity from MRI shows statistically significant correlation with biopsy and significant differences between vertebral levels and changes with age.