Yong Hee Kim1, Hyo Jin Kim1, Jiwoon Seo1, Jee Won Chai1, Hyun-Gul Song2, Yoon-Hee Choi3, Dong Hyun Kim4. 1. Department of Radiology, Seoul Metropolitan Government - Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 20, Boramae-ro 5-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 07061, Republic of Korea. 2. Seoul Song Pain Clinic, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. yoonhee.choi83@gmail.com. 4. Department of Radiology, Seoul Metropolitan Government - Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 20, Boramae-ro 5-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 07061, Republic of Korea. mi4ri4@gmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of Dixon T2-weighted water-fat separation technique in predicting the outcome of lumbar transforaminal epidural injections (TFESIs). METHODS: Patients who underwent TFESI of a single spinal nerve within 3 months after magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam between August 2018 and April 2020 were identified. The patients were classified into positive or negative outcome groups based on the response to the TFESI procedure. Two musculoskeletal radiologists measured the signal intensity of the injected side spinal nerves, contralateral side spinal nerves, and subcutaneous fat on axial Dixon T2-weighted water-only images, and the diameter of spinal nerve on axial Dixon T2-weighted in-phase images of the pre-procedural MRI. The measured values of the injected side spinal nerves were compared between the two groups and with the contralateral side spinal nerve. RESULTS: A total of 94 patients were included, 76 in the positive outcome group and 18 in the negative outcome group. The mean signal intensity and the nerve-to-fat signal ratio of the injected side spinal nerve were significantly higher in the positive outcome group than in the negative outcome group (793.78 vs. 679.19, p = 0.016; 4.21 vs. 3.28, p = 0.003). In the positive outcome group, the diameter of the spinal nerve was significantly higher on the injected side than on the contralateral side (6.91 mm vs. 6.37 mm, p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: The mean signal intensity and the nerve-to-fat signal ratio of the spinal nerve on axial Dixon T2-weighted water-only images can help predict patient response to the TFESI. KEY POINTS: • Applying the Dixon technique to lumbar spine MRI can help predict patient response to the TFESI procedure. • An increased nerve-to-fat signal ratio and mean spinal nerve signal intensity on axial Dixon T2-weighted water-only images predicted favorable TFESI outcomes.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of Dixon T2-weighted water-fat separation technique in predicting the outcome of lumbar transforaminal epidural injections (TFESIs). METHODS:Patients who underwent TFESI of a single spinal nerve within 3 months after magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam between August 2018 and April 2020 were identified. The patients were classified into positive or negative outcome groups based on the response to the TFESI procedure. Two musculoskeletal radiologists measured the signal intensity of the injected side spinal nerves, contralateral side spinal nerves, and subcutaneous fat on axial Dixon T2-weighted water-only images, and the diameter of spinal nerve on axial Dixon T2-weighted in-phase images of the pre-procedural MRI. The measured values of the injected side spinal nerves were compared between the two groups and with the contralateral side spinal nerve. RESULTS: A total of 94 patients were included, 76 in the positive outcome group and 18 in the negative outcome group. The mean signal intensity and the nerve-to-fat signal ratio of the injected side spinal nerve were significantly higher in the positive outcome group than in the negative outcome group (793.78 vs. 679.19, p = 0.016; 4.21 vs. 3.28, p = 0.003). In the positive outcome group, the diameter of the spinal nerve was significantly higher on the injected side than on the contralateral side (6.91 mm vs. 6.37 mm, p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: The mean signal intensity and the nerve-to-fat signal ratio of the spinal nerve on axial Dixon T2-weighted water-only images can help predict patient response to the TFESI. KEY POINTS: • Applying the Dixon technique to lumbar spine MRI can help predict patient response to the TFESI procedure. • An increased nerve-to-fat signal ratio and mean spinal nerve signal intensity on axial Dixon T2-weighted water-only images predicted favorable TFESI outcomes.
Entities:
Keywords:
Injections; Magnetic resonance imaging; Radiculopathy; Spinal nerves; Steroids
Authors: Won Ho Kim; Woo Seog Sim; Byung Seop Shin; Chul Joong Lee; Hyun Seung Jin; Jin Young Lee; Hee Jin Roe; Chung Su Kim; Sagmin M Lee Journal: Pain Physician Date: 2013 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 4.965
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