Clinical imaging of marrow adiposity

Mohamed Jarraya; Miriam A Bredella

doi:10.1016/j.beem.2021.101511

Clinical imaging of marrow adiposity

Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jul;35(4):101511. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2021.101511. Epub 2021 Feb 20.

Authors

Mohamed Jarraya¹, Miriam A Bredella²

Affiliations

¹ Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: mjarraya@mgh.harvard.edu.
² Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

PMID: 33648849
DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2021.101511

Abstract

Research examining bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) has rapidly expanded during the last two decades, leading to advances in knowledge on the role of BMAT in the pathogenesis of bone loss and endocrine disorders. Clinical imaging has played a crucial role for the in vivo assessment of BMAT, allowing non-invasive quantification and evaluation of BMAT composition. In the present work, we review different imaging methods for assessing properties of BMAT. Our aim is to review conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), water-fat imaging, and single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS), as well as computed tomography (CT)-based techniques, including single energy and dual energy CT. We will also discuss the clinical applications of these methods in type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity and anorexia nervosa.

Keywords: bone marrow adipose tissue; dual energy computed tomography; imaging; magnetic resonance imaging; proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Review

MeSH terms

Adipose Tissue / diagnostic imaging
Adiposity
Bone Marrow* / diagnostic imaging
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / diagnostic imaging
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Obesity / diagnostic imaging