Quantitative MRI in early intervertebral disc degeneration: T1rho correlates higher than T2 and ADC with biomechanics, histology and matrix content material.
PLoS One. 2018;13(1):e0191442
Authors: Paul CPL, Smit TH, de Graaf M, Holewijn RM, Bisschop A, van de Ven PM, Mullender MG, Helder MN, Strijkers GJ
Summary
INTRODUCTION: Low-back ache (LBP) has been correlated to the presence of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration on T2-weighted (T2w) MRI. It stays difficult, nevertheless, to precisely stage degenerative disc illness (DDD) based mostly on T2w MRI and measurements of IVD peak, notably for early DDD. A number of quantitative MRI strategies have been launched to detect modifications in matrix composition signifying early DDD. On this research, we correlated quantitative T2, T1rho and Obvious Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values to disc mechanical habits and gold customary early DDD markers in a graded degenerated lumbar IVD caprine mannequin, to evaluate their potential for early DDD detection.
METHODS: Lumbar caprine IVDs had been injected with both zero.25 U/ml or zero.5 U/ml Chondroïtinase ABC (Cabc) to set off early DDD-like degeneration. Injection with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) served as management. IVDs had been cultured in a bioreactor for 20 days beneath axial physiological loading. Excessive-resolution 9.four T MR pictures had been obtained previous to intervention and after tradition. Quantitative MR outcomes had been correlated to restoration habits, histological degeneration grading, and the content material of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and water.
RESULTS: Cabc-injected IVDs confirmed aberrancies in biomechanics and lack of GAGs with out modifications in water-content. All MR sequences detected modifications in matrix composition, with T1rho exhibiting largest modifications pre-to-post within the nucleus, and considerably greater than T2 and ADC. Histologically, degeneration resulting from Cabc injection was gentle. T1rho nucleus values correlated strongest with altered biomechanics, histological degeneration rating, and lack of GAGs.
CONCLUSIONS: T2- and T1rho quantitative MR-mapping detected early DDD modifications. T1rho nucleus values correlated higher than T2 and ADC with biomechanical, histological, and GAG modifications. Medical implementation of quantitative MRI, T1rho notably, may support in distinguishing DDD extra reliably at an earlier stage within the degenerative course of.
PMID: 29381716 [PubMed – in process]