Age-related marrow changes in pelvis: MRI and anatomic findings
DONG Yue1, WU Zhen-hua2
1. Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian Liaoning 116011, China;2. Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
Abstract：Objective: To explore age-specific patterns in distribution of red and yellow marrow in the pelvis. Methods: T1WI of the pelvis in 128 subjects aged 0~22 years old, with no history of hematologic bone marrow diseases were analyzed retrospectively. Red and yellow marrow distribution of the pelvis was reviewed on MRI. The signal intensity and degree of homogeneity of marrow in six anatomic regions of the pelvis, including anterior ilium, posterior ilium, acetabulum, ischium, pubis and sacrum. Results: Marrow siginal intensity and heterogeneity increased in the pelvis with age increasing. After 2 years of age, siginal intensities of anterior ilium and acetabulum were always higher than those of other regions. Marrow siginal intensity and heterogeneity was most prominent in the acetabulum at all ages. Siginal intensity of pubis was rarely inhomogeneous. Marrow siginal intensity of all the regions was almost always lower than that of the fat. Marrow siginal intensity and heterogeneity had no prominent difference between all the regions. Patterns of bone marrow siginal intensity and heterogeneity were recognized in five age groups: infant, toddler, child, earlier adolescent, late adolescent. Conclusion: Marrow siginal intensity and heterogeneity of the pelvis are correlated with age, marrow siginal intensity and heterogeneity increased from birth to 22 years old. Knowledge of normal patters of marrow characteristic is very useful in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of bone marrow diseases.
2006, Vol. 17 
