MRI matches CT scanning for bone mineral density estimations

MRI scanning can be used to measure bone mineral density using a standard of calcium hydroxyapatite and water, giving comparable results to quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Working on the patellas of five subjects, scientists from the University of Southern California and the University of California, Irvine, used the IDEAL method in MRI to measure the fat and water proton signals, as they explained in Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

There was a strong correlation between the concentration of hydroxyapatite in the calibration standards and the MRI signals, supporting the use of MRI to measure bone mineral density. Furthermore, the MRI results for bone mineral density of the patellas agreed with those measured by QCT scanning, so providing an alternative procedure for acquiring this data. In practice, MRI might have the edge over QCT because it allows both bone and soft tissue to be imaged at the same time.

However, the research team did point out one limitation for both methods: "Caution must be taken for both QCT and MRI as the real mineral mass cannot be measured in either signal mode."