Metaphyseal bone marrow 1H spectroscopy within the knees of adolescent subjects: Spectral characterization and T2 corrections

Motivation: We have utilized the Siemens PRESS sequence at 3T to study adolescents with clinical concern1,2,3 that affect the red to yellow marrow conversion and/or lipid composition as indexed via estimated water content and the unsaturation index reflecting the degree of polyunsaturated fats. Goal(s): Metaphyseal marrow is among the last knee region to retain water during the marrow conversion. Approach: This is spectroscopically challenging as bone/tissue interfaces result in broad linewidths (~ 50 Hz) and overlapping resonances. Results: Spectra are acquired at four separate TE's and fit with a six Gaussian model, extrapolating peak areas to 0 TE for T2-correction of marrow indices. Impact: These results impact adolescents with bone marrow changes due to health conditions, helping doctors better understand shifts from red to yellow marrow and changes in fat composition in bones. This is especially relevant for understanding growth patterns and potential early indicators of bone health issues. By studying how water and different fat types change in marrow, new questions can be explored, such as: How do different health conditions or diets affect bone marrow composition in adolescents? Are these marrow changes predictive of certain bone health outcomes in adulthood? Can this method be used to study other age groups or areas of the body?