Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Inselspital, Berne University Hospital, 3010 Berne, Switzerland.
Eur Radiol. 2012 Sep;22(9):2013-9. doi: 10.1007/s00330-012-2448-8. Epub 2012 Apr 29.
To demonstrate the potential benefits of biochemical axial T2 mapping of intervertebral discs (IVDs) regarding the detection and grading of early stages of degenerative disc disease using 1.5-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a clinical setting.
Ninety-three patients suffering from lumbar spine problems were examined using standard MRI protocols including an axial T2 mapping protocol. All discs were classified morphologically and grouped as "healthy" or "abnormal". Differences between groups were analysed regarding to the specific T2 pattern at different regions of interest (ROIs).
Healthy intervertebral discs revealed a distinct cross-sectional T2 value profile: T2 values were significantly lower in the annulus fibrosus compared with the nucleus pulposus (P = 0.01). In abnormal IVDs, T2 values were significantly lower, especially towards the centre of the disc representing the expected decreased water content of the nucleus (P = 0.01). In herniated discs, ROIs within the nucleus pulposus and ROIs covering the annulus fibrosus showed decreased T2 values.
Axial T2 mapping is effective to detect early stages of degenerative disc disease. There is a potential benefit of axial T2 mapping as a diagnostic tool, allowing the quantitative assessment of intervertebral disc degeneration.
展示使用 1.5T 磁共振成像（MRI）在临床环境下对椎间盘（IVD）进行生化轴向 T2 图谱分析在检测和分级早期退行性椎间盘疾病方面的潜在益处。
93 例患有腰椎问题的患者接受了标准 MRI 方案检查，包括轴向 T2 图谱方案。所有椎间盘均进行形态学分类，并分为“健康”或“异常”。分析不同组之间在不同感兴趣区域（ROI）的特定 T2 模式方面的差异。
健康的椎间盘呈现出明显的横截面 T2 值分布特征：纤维环的 T2 值明显低于髓核（P=0.01）。在异常的 IVD 中，T2 值明显降低，特别是在椎间盘的中心区域，代表核内水分含量预期降低（P=0.01）。在椎间盘突出症中，髓核内的 ROI 和覆盖纤维环的 ROI 的 T2 值降低。
轴向 T2 图谱分析可有效检测早期退行性椎间盘疾病。轴向 T2 图谱作为一种诊断工具具有潜在的益处，允许对椎间盘退变进行定量评估。
