title: Changes in perfusion and diffusion in the endplate regions of degenerating intervertebral discs: a DCE-MRI study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) was used to investigate the associations between intervertebral disc degeneration and changes in perfusion and diffusion in the disc endplates.
  
  
  METHODS
  56 participants underwent MRI scans. Changes in DCE-MRI signal enhancement in the endplate regions were analyzed. Also, a group template was generated for the endplates and enhancement maps were registered to this template for group analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DCE-MRI enhancement changed significantly in cranial endplates with increased degeneration. A similar trend was observed for caudal endplates, but it was not significant. Group-averaged enhancement maps revealed major changes in spatial distribution of endplate perfusion and diffusion with increasing disc degeneration especially in peripheral endplate regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased enhancement in the endplate regions of degenerating discs might be an indication of ongoing damage in these tissues. Therefore, DCE-MRI could aid in understanding the pathophysiology of disc degeneration. Moreover, it could be used in the planning of novel treatments such as stem cell therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Volkan Emre
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Arpinar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Rand
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Maiman
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. lmuftuler@mcw.edu.|Center for Imaging Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. lmuftuler@mcw.edu.
authors.forename: L Tugan
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Muftuler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000378:metabolism; D004058:Diffusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000098:blood supply; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging; Intervertebral disc degeneration; Intervertebral disc endplate; Lumbar spine