Hiroyuki Takashima RT,PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Tsuneo Takebayashi MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mitsunori Yoshimoto MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yoshinori Terashima MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kazunari Ida MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Toshihiko Yamashita MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hiroki Shishido RT, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Rui Imamura, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yoshihiro Akatsuka, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The goal of the prospective study was to use T2 mapping to quantify intervertebral disk water content according to the Pfirrmann classification.

This study involved 60 subjects who underwent MRI ofthe lumbar spine (a total of 300 lumbar disks) because of low back pain and leg numbness and tingling, including pain. The degree of disk degeneration was assessed in the midsagittal section on T2-weighted images according to the Pfirrmann classification (grades I to V). T2 values for measurement, disks were divided into five equal areas, designating the front fifth of the anterior annulus fibrosus (AF), the middle fifth of the nucleus pulposus (NP), and the last fifth of the posterior AF. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed among grades to determine the cut-off values.

In the nucleus pulposus, T2 values tended to decrease with increasing grade, and there was a significant difference in T2 values between each grade from grades I to IV. However, there was no significant difference in T2 values in the anterior or posterior annulus fibrosus. T2 values according to disk degeneration level classification were as follows: grade I (>116.8 ms), grade II (92.7– 116.7 ms), grade III (72.1–92.6 ms), grade IV (<72.0 ms).

T2 values decreased with increasing Pfirrmann classification grade in the NP, likely reflecting a decrease in proteoglycan and water content.

T2 value-based measurements of intervertebral disk water content may be useful for future clinical research on degenerative disk diseases.

Takashima, H, Takebayashi, T, Yoshimoto, M, Terashima, Y, Ida, K, Yamashita, T, Shishido, H, Imamura, R, Akatsuka, Y, Correlation between T2 Relaxation Time and Intervertebral Disk Degeneration.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12027397.html