title: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping for diagnosing infectious spondylodiscitis: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Though diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful for diagnosing many pathologies, its use in infectious spondylodiscitis is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the use of DW MRI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping for the diagnosis of infectious spondylodiscitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, 17 patients with confirmed infectious spondylodiscitis were matched by age and level of infected disc with 17 patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD) and 17 healthy controls. All patients received conventional MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the same imaging session. ADC values of the 3 groups of patients were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of each group was 67.4 ± 11.6 years. The mean ADCs of the normal control, DDD, and infectious spondylodiscitis groups were 1.76 ± 0.19 × 10(-3) , 1.12 ± 0.22 × 10(-3) , and 1.27 ± 0.38 × 10(-3) mm2 /second, respectively. The ADCs of the DDD and infectious spondylodiscitis groups were both significantly lower than that of the normal control group (both, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that DWI/ADC MRI may be useful in the early diagnosis of infectious spondylodiscitis.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Medical Imaging, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan; Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan; Shu Zen College of Medicine and Management, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tai-Yuan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Te-Chang
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yu-Kun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.forename: Hou-Hsun
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chien-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Huey-Jen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tai-Ching
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015299:Discitis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Apparent diffusion coefficient; degenerative disc disease; diffusion-weighted imaging; infectious spondylodiscitis; magnetic resonance imaging