Aim: To compare MR sequences for the examination of the bone marrow of the spine in the detection of skeletal metastases.
Methods: 20 standardised prospective studies of the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine in patients with known skeletal metastases were evaluated quantitatively. Studies included T1w SE with and without intravenous contrast medium (CM) administration of Gd-DTPA, T2w TSE with and without frequence selective fat saturation (SPIR), opposed phase gradient echo (opGE) with and without intravenous CM administration of Gd-DTPA and T1w SE CM SPIR sequences. The quantitative parameters signal/noise ratio (SNR), contrast/noise ratio (CNR) and contrast were evaluated.
Results: OpGE with contrast showed the best results in SNR, CNR and C. Results were statistically significant. Good SNR and C also was found for T1w SE native. SPIR and T2w sequences were less sensitive.
Conclusion: OpGE sequences are recommended for the detection of skeletal metastases of the spine.