Quantitative T2 magnetic resonance imaging compared to morphological grading of the early cervical intervertebral disc degeneration: an evaluation approach in asymptomatic young adults.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of quantitative T2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for quantifying early cervical intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration in asymptomatic young adults by correlating the T2 value with Pfirrmann grade, sex, and anatomic level.


METHODS
Seventy asymptomatic young subjects (34 men and 36 women; mean age, 22.80±2.11 yr; range, 18-25 years) underwent 3.0-T MRI to obtain morphological data (one T1-fast spin echo (FSE) and three-plane T2-FSE, used to assign a Pfirrmann grade (I-V)) and for T2 mapping (multi-echo spin echo). T2 values in the nucleus pulposus (NP, n = 350) and anulus fibrosus (AF, n = 700) were obtained. Differences in T2 values between sexes and anatomic level were evaluated, and linear correlation analysis of T2 values versus degenerative grade was conducted.


RESULTS
Cervical IVDs of healthy young adults were commonly determined to be at Pfirrmann grades I and II. T2 values of NPs were significantly higher than those of AF at all anatomic levels (P<0.000). The NP, anterior AF and posterior AF values did not differ significantly between genders at the same anatomic level (P>0.05). T2 values decreased linearly with degenerative grade. Linear correlation analysis revealed a strong negative association between the Pfirrmann grade and the T2 values of the NP (P = 0.000) but not the T2 values of the AF (P = 0.854). However, non-degenerated discs (Pfirrmann grades I and II) showed a wide range of T2 relaxation time. T2 values according to disc degeneration level classification were as follows: grade I (>62.03 ms), grade II (54.60-62.03 ms), grade III (<54.60 ms).


CONCLUSIONS
T2 quantitation provides a more sensitive and robust approach for detecting and characterizing the early stage of cervical IVD degeneration and to create a reliable quantitative in healthy young adults.
The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China ; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Chun
C
Chen
Department of Radiology, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Minghua
M
Huang
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Zhihua
Z
Han
Department of Radiology, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Lixin
L
Shao
Department of Radiology, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Yan
Y
Xie
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Jianhong
J
Wu
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Yan
Y
Zhang
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Hongkui
H
Xin
Department of Radiology, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Aijun
A
Ren
Department of Radiology, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Yong
Y
Guo
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Deli
D
Wang
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Qing
Q
He
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Dike
D
Ruan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D012372:ROC Curve; D055815:Young Adult