Normal MR Signal Reference Ranges for Paediatric Bone Marrow

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Normal MR Signal Reference Ranges for Paediatric Bone Marrow

  • IRAS ID

    144831

  • Contact name

    Andoni Toms

  • Contact email

    andoni.toms@nnuh.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Research and development Office

  • Research summary

    There is a well recognised evolution in the histology of bone marrow in children. In the neonatal period bone marrow is predominantly hematopoietic. In late adolescence the bone marrow comprises mostly yellow fat. In between, there is a transition from one to the other through various recognised geographical patterns made up of the two tissue types. This is reflected in changing MR imaging characteristics.

    Unfortunately the current knowledge base has several weaknesses that may explain our anecdotal observations that the published descriptions of normal MR signal characteristics for paediatric bone marrow do not reflect our observations. An understanding of the normal appearance for any given age group is important in order to be able to identify marrow disorders such as leukaemia.

    This is a retrospective study to look at the evolution of signal characteristics of bone marrow in children from 0 years to 16 years.

    We aim to determine:
    Normal reference ranges for spinal bone marrow characterising the changes that take place in the paediatric spine from birth to adulthood (0 years to 16 years).

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    14/WM/0183

  • Date of REC Opinion

    23 May 2014

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion