QUANTITATIVE MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN THE ASSESSMENT OF DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE

Understanding degenerative intervertebral disc diseases hinges on the ability to objectively and noninvasively assess the disc matrix compos ition and integrity. The potential of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging to meet these demands was evaluated, Analyzing the T-1 and T-2 signal patterns in the nucleus pulposus with Increasing Thompson morp hological grade revealed a significant reduction related to grade. Thi s significant decrease in T-1 and T-2 in the nucleus pulposus with gra de 4 degeneration and the corresponding low correlation coefficients w ith respect to the content of individual matrix molecules suggest that matrix integrity plays an important and distinct role in determining T-1 and T-2 signal, Similarly, the significant increase in magnetizati on transfer in the nucleus pulposus observed in grade 4 degeneration d id not correlate with the changes in molecular content in these highly degenerated discs. Again, this lack of correlation clearly indicates that the tissue Integrity and matrix composition independently contrib ute to the magnetization transfer signal. This study presents the firs t clear evidence that quantitative magnetic resonance analysis reflect s not: only the disc matrix composition, but also the structural integ rity of the matrix of the disc.