Population average T2 MRI maps reveal quantitative regional transformations in the degenerating rabbit intervertebral disc that vary by lumbar level. Issue 1 (1st October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martin, John T.; Collins, Christopher M.; Ikuta, Kensuke; Mauck, Robert L.; Elliott, Dawn M.; Zhang, Yeija; Anderson, D. Greg; Vaccaro, Alexander R.; Albert, Todd J.; Arlet, Vincent; Smith, Harvey E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of orthopaedic research. Volume 33:Issue 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 140
• Page End: 148
• Publication Date: 2014-10-01
• Subjects: Orthopedics -- Periodicals; Musculoskeletal system -- Periodicals; 616.7
• DOI: 10.1002/jor.22737
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0736-0266

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="jor22737-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with T2‐weighting is routinely performed to assess intervertebral disc degeneration. Standard clinical evaluations of MR images are qualitative, however, and do not focus on region‐specific alterations in the disc. Utilizing a rabbit needle puncture model, T2 mapping was performed on injured discs to develop a quantitative description of the degenerative process following puncture. To do so, an 18G needle was inserted into four discs per rabbit (L3/L4 to L6/L7) and T2 maps were generated pre‐ and 4 weeks post‐injury. Individual T2 maps were normalized to a disc‐specific coordinate system and then averaged for pre‐ and post‐injury population composite T2 maps. We also developed a method to automatically segment the nucleus pulposus by fitting the NP region of the T2 maps with modified 2‐D and 3‐D Gaussian distribution functions. Puncture injury produced alterations in MR signal intensity in a region‐specific manner mirroring human degeneration. Population average T2 maps provided a quantitative representation of the injury response, and identified deviations of individual degenerate discs from the pre‐injury population. We found that the response to standardized injury was modest at lower lumbar levels, likely as a result of increased disc dimensions. These tools will be valuable for the quantitative characterization of disc degeneration in future clinical and pre‐clinical studies. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:140–148, 2015.</p> </sec> </abstract>