Bone marrow cellularity MRI calculation and correlation with bone marrow biopsy.

PURPOSE: To calculate bone marrow cellularity from MRI and correlate with bone marrow biopsy.

METHODS: Twenty-seven lymphoma patients with staging bone marrow biopsies and lumbar MRI were reviewed. Cellularity was calculated from T1 signal intensity measurements=100 - {[(marrow - CSF)/(subcutaneous fat - CSF)] X 100}.

RESULTS: The histologic cellularities demonstrated significant correlation with iliac bone MRI cellularity (r=0.59, P=.001). Cellularities increased from T11 to S1. Cellularity decreased with age=67.6 - (age X 0.36).

CONCLUSIONS: Marrow cellularity from MRI shows statistically significant correlation with biopsy and significant differences between vertebral levels and changes with age.