title: T2* mapping of ovine intervertebral discs: Normative data for cervical and lumbar spine.
abstract: To obtain T2* values in histologically evaluated healthy ovine intervertebral discs of the cervical and lumbar spine. Intervertebral discs of nine sheep and nine lambs underwent histological assessment with the modified Boos score for grading of disc degeneration. Discs with a score <10 points (maximum = 40 points) underwent T2* mapping (n = 64). Mid-sagittal T2* values were obtained in five regions: Anterior annulus fibrosus, anterior nucleus pulposus, central nucleus pulposus, posterior nucleus pulposus, and posterior annulus fibrosus. We noted a zonal T2* distribution with high values in the central nucleus and low T2* values in the anterior and posterior annulus fibrosus. The T2* values were higher in lamb than in sheep IVDs for both cervical and lumbar spine (p < 0.001). The T2* values were also higher in the cervical than in the lumbar spine (p = 0.029 for sheep and p < 0.001 for lamb IVDs). The T2* values obtained in these ovine intervertebral discs can serve as baseline values for future T2* measurements both in health and disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna-Katharina
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kolf
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hesper
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schleich
authors.affiliation: Center for Hip Preservation and Children's Orthopedics, San Diego, California.|Hosalkar Institute for Joint Preservation and Injury Care, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Harish S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hosalkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jankowiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cacchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antoch
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zilkens
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krauspe
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bittersohl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012016:Reference Values; D012756:Sheep / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
keywords: MRI; T2* mapping; histology; intervertebral disc; ovine