Age- and Level-Dependence of Fatty Infiltration in Lumbar Paravertebral Muscles of Healthy Volunteers.
- Crawford RJ From the Centre for Health Sciences (R.J.C., J.M.E.), Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland Faculty of Health Professions (R.J.C.), Curtin University, Perth, Australia rebecca.crawford@zhaw.ch.
- Filli L Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (L.F., D.N., M.A.F., M.M., E.J.U.), University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Elliott JM From the Centre for Health Sciences (R.J.C., J.M.E.), Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland Feinberg School of Medicine (J.M.E.), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (J.M.E.), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
- Nanz D Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (L.F., D.N., M.A.F., M.M., E.J.U.), University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Fischer MA Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (L.F., D.N., M.A.F., M.M., E.J.U.), University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Marcon M Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (L.F., D.N., M.A.F., M.M., E.J.U.), University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland Institute of Diagnostic Radiology (M.M.), University Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy.
- Ulbrich EJ Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (L.F., D.N., M.A.F., M.M., E.J.U.), University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- 2015-12-05
Published in:
- AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology. - 2016
Adipose Tissue
Adult
Aging
Back Muscles
Body Mass Index
Electric Impedance
Female
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Low Back Pain
Lumbosacral Region
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Sex Characteristics
Whole Body Imaging
Young Adult
English
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Normative age-related decline in paravertebral muscle quality is important for reference to disease and risk identification in patients. We aimed to establish age- and vertebral level-dependence of paravertebral (multifidus and erector spinae) muscle volume and fat content in healthy adult volunteers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this prospective study multifidus and erector spinae fat signal fraction and volume at lumbar levels L1-L5 were measured in 80 healthy volunteers (10 women and men per decade, 20-62 years of age) by 2-point Dixon 3T MR imaging. ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni correction compared fat signal fraction and volume among subgroups. Pearson and Spearman analysis were used for correlations (P < .05).
RESULTS
Fat signal fraction was higher in women (17.8% ± 10.7%) than men (14.7% ± 7.8%; P < .001) and increased with age. Multifidus and erector spinae volume was lower in women (565.4 ± 83.8 cm(3)) than in men (811.6 ± 98.9 cm(3); P < .001) and was age-independent. No differences in fat signal fraction were shown between the right and left paravertebral muscles or among the L1, L2, and L3 lumbar levels. The fat signal fraction was highest at L5 (women, 31.9% ± 9.3%; men, 25.7% ± 8.0%; P < .001). The fat signal fraction at L4 correlated best with total lumbar fat signal fraction (women, r = 0.95; men, r = 0.92, P < .001). Total fat signal fraction was higher in the multifidus compared with erector spinae muscles at L1-L4 for both sexes (P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS
Lumbar paravertebral muscle fat content increases with aging, independent of volume, in healthy volunteers 20-62 years of age. Women, low lumbar levels, and the multifidus muscle are most affected. Further study examining younger and older subjects and the functional impact of fatty infiltrated paravertebral muscles are warranted.
Normative age-related decline in paravertebral muscle quality is important for reference to disease and risk identification in patients. We aimed to establish age- and vertebral level-dependence of paravertebral (multifidus and erector spinae) muscle volume and fat content in healthy adult volunteers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this prospective study multifidus and erector spinae fat signal fraction and volume at lumbar levels L1-L5 were measured in 80 healthy volunteers (10 women and men per decade, 20-62 years of age) by 2-point Dixon 3T MR imaging. ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni correction compared fat signal fraction and volume among subgroups. Pearson and Spearman analysis were used for correlations (P < .05).
RESULTS
Fat signal fraction was higher in women (17.8% ± 10.7%) than men (14.7% ± 7.8%; P < .001) and increased with age. Multifidus and erector spinae volume was lower in women (565.4 ± 83.8 cm(3)) than in men (811.6 ± 98.9 cm(3); P < .001) and was age-independent. No differences in fat signal fraction were shown between the right and left paravertebral muscles or among the L1, L2, and L3 lumbar levels. The fat signal fraction was highest at L5 (women, 31.9% ± 9.3%; men, 25.7% ± 8.0%; P < .001). The fat signal fraction at L4 correlated best with total lumbar fat signal fraction (women, r = 0.95; men, r = 0.92, P < .001). Total fat signal fraction was higher in the multifidus compared with erector spinae muscles at L1-L4 for both sexes (P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS
Lumbar paravertebral muscle fat content increases with aging, independent of volume, in healthy volunteers 20-62 years of age. Women, low lumbar levels, and the multifidus muscle are most affected. Further study examining younger and older subjects and the functional impact of fatty infiltrated paravertebral muscles are warranted.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- hybrid
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.3174/ajnr.A4596
- PMID 26635285
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/255261
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