Positron emission tomographic measurement of bone marrow blood flow to the
pelvis and lumbar vertebrae in young normal adults [published erratum
appears in Blood 1994 Nov 15;84(10):3602]
D Kahn, GJ Weiner, S Ben-Haim, LL Ponto, MT Madsen, DL Bushnell, GL Watkins, EA Argenyi and RD Hichwa
Department of Radiology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City.
Ten young normal adults had pelvic and lumbar vertebral body bone marrow
blood flow examined using [15O]water and positron emission tomography (PET)
in a study designed to assess the feasibility and reproducibility of the
PET technique for measuring marrow blood flow to various marrow regions.
The procedure was well tolerated. Repeated blood flow measurements obtained
from two consecutive [15O]water exams on each individual subject were
highly reproducible. In addition, there was minimal variation in marrow
blood flow from individual to individual and no gender differences were
noted. In contrast, mean +/- SD bone marrow blood flows (expressed as
milliliters per minute per 100 g) at selected anatomical sites were
significantly different and were as follows: lower lumbar vertebral bodies,
17.6 +/- 3.1; most posterior and superior pelvis (conventional site of
percutaneous bone marrow biopsy), 14.3 +/- 3.1; and total superior pelvis,
11.1 +/- 2.0. We conclude that PET is a relatively noninvasive, simple, and
reproducible technique for measuring bone marrow blood flow. Marrow blood
flow is consistent between normal young subjects, but varies significantly
between different anatomic regions of the marrow.
Volume 83,
Issue 4,
pp. 958-963,
02/15/1994
Copyright © 1994 by The American Society of Hematology
