Quantitative Evaluation of Intervertebral Disc Nucleus and Cartilage Endplates Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging Ultra-Short TE

<p>Introduction: This study aims to quantitatively evaluate degeneration of the intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus and vertebral cartilage endplates using MRI ultrashort TE, and to investigate the relationship between the two.</p><p>Methods: Intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus and vertebral cartilage endplates at L2/3, L3/4, and L4/5 levels were evaluated with 3.0 Tesla sagittal MRI images. Pfirrmann classification on T2-weighted sagittal image and endplate classification and score on T1-weighted image for visual evaluations of intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus and vertebral body cartilage endplates were quantitatively utilized, respectively. It was measured using T2 mapping via the ultrashort TE method for evaluation.</p><p>Results: The T2* value of the intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus decreased as the grade of the Pfirrmann classification progressed. In the end plate classification and score of the vertebral body cartilage endplates, the T2* value increased when degeneration progressed to Grades 2 and 3, but the T2* value decreased when degeneration progressed to Grades 4, 5, and 6. When the intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus T2* value is shortened, the vertebral body cartilage endplate T2* value is extended once, but then shortened.</p><p>Conclusions: A quantitative evaluation using the T2* value of the intervertebral disc and vertebral body cartilage endplate was reported. In the future, by proceeding with longitudinal studies using quantitative evaluation methods, it may be possible to elucidate which of the intervertebral disc and vertebral body cartilage endplate degeneration progresses first.</p>