T2 mapping Imaging of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by Using 1.5T Magnetic Resonance / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose To investigate the value of MRI T2 mapping imaging in diagnosis of lumbar intervertebral disc degenerative (IVDD).Materials and Methods A prospective study was performed on 100 patients who underwent 1.5T MRI examination because of lumbar and back pain from October 2013 to December 2015 at the Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai,Fudan University.The MRI examinations included conventional sagittal T1WI and T2WI,axial T2WI and median sagittal T2 mapping imaging.According to Pfirrmann standard,475 lumbar intervertebral discs were graded.T2 values of nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF) of anteriority and posterior with different grades were measured and compared.The correlations between T2 value,age and grade were further analyzed.30 patients were selected and underwent a second MR examination after half a year,and the difference of T2 values between the two MR examinations were compared.Results Except for grade Ⅳ and grade Ⅴ,the differences of T2 values of NP between the other grades of lumbar intervertebral discs were statistically significant (P＜0.05).T2 values of NP were negatively correlated with the grades (r=-0.77).There were no significant differences in T2 values of NP and AF of anteriority and posterior in 30 patients with back pain between the two MR measurements of half year interval (P＞0.05).Conclusion T2 mapping imaging can quantitatively assess the degree of IVDD,especially T2 values of NP can reflect the differences of IVDD with grade Ⅰ-Ⅳ,so it can provide the imaging evidence for the diagnosis of IVDD.