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| The application value of T2 mapping technique in the assessment of lumbar disc degeneration |
| WANG Jian-wei, XU Xiao-quan, WANG De-hang, ZOU Yue-fen, SHI Yin, XU Lei, SHI Hai-bin |
| Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China |
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Abstract Objective: To evaluate the application value of T2 mapping technique in the assessment of lumbar disc degeneration. Materials and Methods: 33 cases diagnosed as lumbar disc degeneration underwent lumbar routine magnetic resonance imaging and T2 mapping scanning. All their intervertebral discs(IVDs) were graded by Pfirrmann scale. T2 values of the anterior annulus fibrosus(AAF), the nucleus pulposus(NP) and the posterior annulus fibrosus(PAF) were measured manually on the sagittal T2 map. ANOVA analysis was used to compare the differences of T2 values at the AAF, NP and PAF of degenerated IVD with different Pfirrmann grades. The correlation between T2 values and Pfirrmann grades of the IVDs was evaluated by Spearman analysis. Results: No significant differences were found about T2 values of AAF or PAF at different Pfirrmann grades(AAF, P=0.233; PAF, P=0.906), while significant difference was found about T2 values of NP at different Pfirrmann grades(P=0.000). After multiple comparisons, T2 values of Pfirrmann Ⅱ~Ⅲ and Pfirrmann Ⅲ~Ⅳ showed statistical differences(Pfirrmann Ⅱ~Ⅲ, P=0.000; Pfirrmann Ⅲ~Ⅳ, P=0.008). But T2 values of Pfirrmann Ⅰ~Ⅱ and Pfirrmann Ⅲ~Ⅴ had no statistical differences(Pfirrmann Ⅰ~Ⅱ, P=0.357; Pfirrmann Ⅳ~Ⅴ, P=0.489). Significant negative correlation was found between T2 values of NP and Pfirrmann grades (r=-0.765, P=0.000), while only poor correlation was found between T2 values of AAF and Pfirrmann grades(r=-0.166, P=0.036), and no correlation between T2 values of PAF and Pfirrmann grades(r=0.051, P=0.521). Conclusion: T2 mapping technique could quantitatively demonstrate the differences of T2 values between the different structures of IVDs at different Pfirrmann grades, which provided evidence for clinical quantitative diagnosis of the IVD degeneration.
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Received: 25 November 2014
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2015, Vol. 26 
