3T-MRI-based age, sex and site-specific markers of musculoskeletal health in healthy children and young adults

Elsharkasi, H. M., Chen, S. C., Steell, L. , Joseph, S., Abdalrahaman, N., McComb, C., Johnston, B., Foster, J., Wong, S. C. and Ahmed, S. F. (2022) 3T-MRI-based age, sex and site-specific markers of musculoskeletal health in healthy children and young adults. Endocrine Connections, 11(7), e220034. (doi: 10.1530/EC-22-0034) (PMID:35700237) (PMCID:PMC9346338)

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the role of 3T-MRI in assessing musculoskeletal health in children and young people. Design: Bone, muscle and bone marrow imaging was performed in 161 healthy participants with a median age of 15.0 yrs (range, 8.0, 30.0). Methods: Detailed assessment of bone microarchitecture (CISS sequence, voxel size 0.2x0.2x0.4mm3), bone geometry (TSE sequence, voxel size 0.4x0.4x2mm3) and bone marrow (1H-MRS, PRESS sequence, single voxel size 20x20x20mm3), size and muscle adiposity (Dixon, voxel size 1.1x1.1x2mm3). Results: There was an inverse association of apparent bone volume/total volume (appBV/TV) with age (r, -0.5, p<0.0005). Cortical area, endosteal and periosteal circumferences and muscle cross-sectional area showed a positive association to age (r >0.49, p<0.0001). In those over 17 yrs of age, these parameters were also higher in males than females (p<0.05). This sex difference was also evident for appBV/TV and bone marrow adiposity (BMA) in the older participants (p<0.05). AppBV/TV showed a negative correlation with BMA (r, -0.22, p=0.01) which also showed an association with muscle adiposity (r, 0.24, p=0.04). Cortical geometric parameters were highly correlated with muscle area (r >0.57, p<0.01). Conclusions: In addition to providing deep insight into the normal relationships between bone, fat and muscle in young people, these novel data emphasize the role of MRI as a non-invasive method for performing a comprehensive and integrated assessment of musculoskeletal health in the growing skeleton.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: NA and HME were supported by the Libyan Ministry for Higher Education. SCC and LS were supported by the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity Research Fund and SCC is currently supported by a NHS Research Scotland Career Researcher Fellowship. CM was supported through the Scottish Academic Health Sciences Collaboration. BJ was supported by the Medical Fund of the University of Glasgow. SJ was supported by a NHS Research Scotland Chief Scientist Office Clinical Academic Fellowship.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: ABDALRAHAMAN, Naiemh and Foster, Dr John and Mccomb, Dr Christie and Wong, Dr Jarod and Johnston, Dr Blair and Chen, Suet and Ahmed, Professor Syed Faisal and Joseph, Dr Shuko and Steell, Dr Lewis and Elsharkasi, Mrs Huda
• Authors: Elsharkasi, H. M., Chen, S. C., Steell, L., Joseph, S., Abdalrahaman, N., McComb, C., Johnston, B., Foster, J., Wong, S. C., and Ahmed, S. F.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Endocrine Connections
• Publisher: Bio Scientifica
• ISSN: 2049-3614
• ISSN (Online): 2049-3614
• Published Online: 01 June 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Endocrine Connections 11(7): e220034
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License