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Clinical Article
Measurement of MR T2 relaxation time for assessing cervical intervertebral disc degeneration: preliminary study
HUANG Yao-qu  ZHAO Xiao-mei  WU Qiong-hui  QIN Hong-wei 

DOI:10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2015.11.009.


[Abstract] Objective: To explore the value of T2 relaxation time (T2 value) measurement in detecting cervical intervertebral disc degeneration, and assessing age and disc level related intervertebral disc changes.Materials and Methods: Forty asymptomatic adult volunteers were examined at 1.5 T MR by T2-weighted sagittal imaging and T2-mapping. For all participants, Pfirrmann grading system and T2 value were used to evaluate the degenerative degree of the disks.Results: Significant negative correlation were observed between Pfirrmann grades and T2 values of cervical intervertebral disc (r=-0.64, P<0.01). ANOVA (analysis of variance) among different Pfirrmann grades showed significant differences in T2 values (F=48.2, P<0.01), and significant differences were seen between any 2 grades (P<0.05). The area under ROC curve of T2 value were 0.79, 0.81 and 0.78 (P<0.05) separately when grade Ⅰ vs. Ⅱ, Ⅱ vs. Ⅲ, and Ⅲ vs. Ⅳ. T2 values of 18—30 age group were higher than 31—40 age group participants (P<0.05). Significant differences among different disc level were observed in 18—30 age group (P<0.05). However, in 31—40 age group, no significant differences of disc level were demonstrated (P>0.05).Conclusions: T2 relaxation time measurement is a quantitative-parameter for assessing cervical intervertebral disc degeneration and age and disc level related disc changes, and shall be used as a complementary sequence in detecting cervical disc degeneration for its certain clinical value.
[Keywords] Intervertebral disc degeneration;Cervical spondylosis;Magnetic resonance imaging

HUANG Yao-qu Room of MRI, Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong pravince, Foshan 528000, China

ZHAO Xiao-mei Room of MRI, Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong pravince, Foshan 528000, China

WU Qiong-hui Room of MRI, Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong pravince, Foshan 528000, China

QIN Hong-wei Room of MRI, Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong pravince, Foshan 528000, China

Conflicts of interest   None.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS  Supported by Medical Scientific Research Foundation of Guangdong Province No. A2013680 Medical Research and Development Program of Foshan No. 201308015
Received  2015-08-13
Accepted  2015-09-15
DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2015.11.009
DOI:10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2015.11.009.

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