Abstract #3943

Diffusion Weighted Imaging of Bone Marrow : Comparison of Apparent Diffusion Coefficients of Normal Bone Marrow and Metastatic Bone Disease to Inform the Development of a Protocol Optimised to Metastatic Bone Disease

Christina Messiou¹, Veronica A. Morgan¹, David J. Collins¹, Nandita M. deSouza¹

¹Cancer Research UK Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research Group, Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, Surrey, UK

The role of diffusion weighted (DW) MRI in imaging of soft tissue tumours had evolved rapidly. However its application to bone disease has not yet been fully exploited because the unique microarchitecture of normal and pathological bone marrow present challenges. The aim of this study was to identify the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of normal bone marrow and bone metastases in order to develop a DW MRI protocol optimised to bone. Bone marrow is significantly restricted compared to marrow pathology of various types. Optimised contrast can be obtained using higher b values-We suggest a maximum b value of 1400 smm-2.