OBJECTIVE: A decreased supply of nutrition to the intervertebral disc can lead to disc degeneration. Nutrient supply can be simulated in vivo by measuring gadolinium enhancement of the disc. We aimed to study the changes associated with disc degeneration that may have effect on the nutrition of the disc, i.e. lumbar artery narrowing, Modic changes, endplate defects, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in nucleus pulposus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty male volunteers underwent a lumbar spine examination at 1.5 T for anatomical imaging, diffusion weighted imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, and for T1 relaxation time quantification of contrast enhancement of intervertebral disc. RESULTS: Enhancement of the disc increased with degeneration. Disc space narrowing associated strongly with the enhancement (Pearson's correlation coefficient 0.46, P < 0.001). The enhancement rate in discs adjacent to Modic type 2 changes was 24%, adjacent to type 1/2 changes 58%, and 13% in the absence of Modic changes. Discs adjacent to endplate defects enhanced 32% compared to 10% of normal endplates. Lumbar artery narrowing or ADC in the disc were not associated with the enhancement. CONCLUSION: Increased enhancement of a degenerated disc is associated mostly with disc space narrowing and with the presence of degenerative endplate changes and endplate defects.
OBJECTIVE: A decreased supply of nutrition to the intervertebral disc can lead to disc degeneration. Nutrient supply can be simulated in vivo by measuring gadolinium enhancement of the disc. We aimed to study the changes associated with disc degeneration that may have effect on the nutrition of the disc, i.e. lumbar artery narrowing, Modic changes, endplate defects, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in nucleus pulposus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty male volunteers underwent a lumbar spine examination at 1.5 T for anatomical imaging, diffusion weighted imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, and for T1 relaxation time quantification of contrast enhancement of intervertebral disc. RESULTS: Enhancement of the disc increased with degeneration. Disc space narrowing associated strongly with the enhancement (Pearson's correlation coefficient 0.46, P < 0.001). The enhancement rate in discs adjacent to Modic type 2 changes was 24%, adjacent to type 1/2 changes 58%, and 13% in the absence of Modic changes. Discs adjacent to endplate defects enhanced 32% compared to 10% of normal endplates. Lumbar artery narrowing or ADC in the disc were not associated with the enhancement. CONCLUSION: Increased enhancement of a degenerated disc is associated mostly with disc space narrowing and with the presence of degenerative endplate changes and endplate defects.
Authors: L I Kerttula; J P Jauhiainen; O Tervonen; I J Suramo; A Koivula; J T Oikarinen Journal: J Magn Reson Imaging Date: 2000-08 Impact factor: 4.813
Authors: S Rajasekaran; J Naresh Babu; R Arun; B Roy Wilson Armstrong; Ajoy Prasad Shetty; Subramaniam Murugan Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2004-12-01 Impact factor: 3.468
Authors: Roland Bammer; Andreas M Herneth; Stephan E Maier; Kim Butts; Rupert W Prokesch; Huy M Do; Scott W Atlas; Michael E Moseley Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2003-01 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: P S Tofts; D Lloyd; C A Clark; G J Barker; G J Parker; P McConville; C Baldock; J M Pope Journal: Magn Reson Med Date: 2000-03 Impact factor: 4.668