title: Does T2 mapping of the posterior annulus fibrosus indicate the presence of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation? A 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance study.
abstract: Indicating lumbar disc herniation via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 mapping in the posterior annulus fibrosus (AF).
  
  
  
  Sagittal T2 maps of 313 lumbar discs of 64 patients with low back pain were acquired at 3.0 Tesla (3T). The discs were rated according to disc herniation and bulging. Region of interest (ROI) analysis was performed on median, sagittal T2 maps. T2 values of the AF, in the most posterior 10% (PAF-10) and 20% of the disc (PAF-20), were compared.
  
  
  
  A significant increase in the T2 values of discs with herniations affecting the imaged area, compared to bulging discs and discs with lateral herniation, was shown in the PAF-10, where no association to the NP was apparent. The PAF-20 exhibited a moderate correlation to the nucleus pulposus (NP).
  
  
  
  High T2 values in the PAF-10 suggest the presence of disc herniation (DH). The results indicate that T2 values in the PAF-20 correspond more to changes in the NP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, MR Center-High-field MR, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Messner
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria. david.stelzeneder@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stelzeneder
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, MR Center-High-field MR, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trattnig
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, MR Center-High-field MR, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria.|UKE Athleticum, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Götz H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Welsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schinhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Apprich
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, MR Center-High-field MR, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria.|Department of Orthopaedics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brix
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Windhager
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, MR Center-High-field MR, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trattnig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000070616:Annulus Fibrosus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Disc signal; Intervertebral disc degeneration; Lumbar spine; Magnetic resonance imaging; Posterior annulus fibrosus; T2 mapping