MRI-based vertebral bone quality score: relationship with age and reproducibility
Authors' conclusion
Extrinsic factors, including MRI technical factors and age, can impact the VBQ(L1-4) score and must be considered when using this tool to estimate bone mineral density (BMD). VBQ(L1-4) score was positively correlated with age. Reproducibility of the VBQ(L1-4) score across serial MRI is excellent especially when controlling for technical factors, supporting use of the VBQ score in estimating BMD. The VBQ(L1) score was a reliable alternative to the VBQ(L1-4) score.
Study context
- Population
- Patients aged 20–69 with two T1-weighted lumbar MRI within 3 months of each other, January 2011–December 202153.7% female
- Participants
- 136 patients
- Outcome
- Correlation of VBQ(L1-4) score with age and reproducibility across serial MRI
- Follow-up
- Within 3 months
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Reproducibility in serial MRI (coefficient of variation (CV))
0.169
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Agreement of vertebral bone quality (VBQ)(L1) and VBQ(L1-4)
- Excellent agreement (ICC)
- > 0.9
Extrinsic factors affecting VBQ score
- Patient age, MRI relaxation time and specific MRI machine affected the VBQ score
Original publication
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