骨髓脂肪檢測聯合骨骼礦物質密度檢測，能夠更好地預測骨質疏松。使用雙重X線吸收掃描進行骨骼礦物質密度檢測，是目前最廣泛應用的檢測骨質疏松的方法。研究人員長期以來質疑是否存在其他骨骼檢測指標能夠提示骨骼的機械穩定性。

喬治敦大學醫院(Washington DC, USA)研究人員進行的一項研究證實：骨髓脂肪含量增高是反應骨質疏松的獨立指標。磁共振光譜檢測是一種非侵入性的檢查骨髓脂肪的方法。磁共振光譜檢測能夠在脊柱核磁共振檢查的時候進行。這個小規模研究包括了26例患者，同時進行了腰椎磁共振光譜檢查以及雙重X線吸收掃描檢測。結果15例患者脊椎椎骨無異常發現，而11例患者顯示出骨質疏松的跡象。

研究人員長期以來一直質疑骨骼脂肪含量增高是否表示骨骼危險因素。但是磁共振光譜學檢測應用于臨床之前，臨床醫生如果需要檢測骨骼脂肪，就必須通過外科手術從患者采集骨骼樣本。這些研究人員認為，例如現在使用的非創傷性技術，開辟了嶄新的診斷前景。

喬治敦大學研究人員認為：如果這些研究成果能夠被更大規模的研究所證實，就可以使用新型藥物治療骨骼脂肪蓄積，以防止加重骨骼疏松。這個研究結果發表于2004年11月的《美國X線學期刊》。

Bone Marrow Fat Helps Predict Bone Stability
 
Evaluating bone marrow fat (BMF) in combination with bone mineral density (BMD) can better predict bone weakening. BMD assessment with dual-x-ray absortiometry (DEXA) is currently the most commonly used way of determining bone weakening. Investigators have long questioned whether there may be other measurable bone parameters that can indicate mechanical stability of bone.

A study performed by investigators at Georgetown University Hospital (Washington DC, USA) demonstrated that increased BMF is an independent marker of bone weakening. Magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy was utilized to assess BMF noninvasively. MR spectroscopy can be performed in conjunction with a spine MRI. This pilot study included 26 patients who had undergone both MR spectroscopy and DEXA of the lumbar spine. Fifteen had normal-appearing spine vertebra and 11 demonstrated signs of bone weakening.

Researchers have long suspected that increased bone fat content represents a bone risk factor. However, before MR spectroscopy, clinicians needed to examine bone fat by surgically removing bone samples from patients. A noninvasive technique such as this now opens new diagnostic prospects, according to the investigators.

If these results are validated by larger studies, increased fat accumulation in bone could be treated with new drugs, in an effort to avoid additional bone weakening, according to the Georgetown University researchers. The study was published in the December 20004 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.