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Value of delayed gadolinium‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage for the pre‐operative assessment of cervical intervertebral discs
Author(s) -
Schleich Christoph,
Miese Falk,
MüllerLutz Anja,
Boos Johannes,
Aissa Joel,
Nasca Adrian,
Zaucke Frank,
Bostelmann Tamara,
Schimmöller Lars,
Bittersohl Bernd,
Steiger HansJakob,
Antoch Gerald,
Bostelmann Richard
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.23454
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , intervertebral disc , sagittal plane , gadolinium , cartilage , discectomy , nuclear medicine , radiology , lumbar , anatomy , materials science , metallurgy
The study was performed to preoperatively assess the cartilage integrity of cervical intervertebral discs (IVDs) using Delayed Gadolinium‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cartilage (dGEMRIC). Therefore, 53 cervical intervertebral discs of nine preoperative patients with neck and shoulder/arm pain scheduled for discectomy (five females, four males; mean age: 47.1 ± 8.4 years; range: 36–58 years) were included for biochemical analysis in this retrospective study. The patients underwent 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including biochemical imaging with dGEMRIC and morphological, sagittal T2 weighted (T2w) imaging. Cervical IVDs were rated using an MRI based grading system for cervical IVDs on T2w images. Region‐of‐interest measurements were performed in the nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF) and a dGEMRIC index was calculated. Our results demonstrated that IVDs scheduled for discectomy showed significantly lower dGEMRIC index compared to IVDs that did not require surgical intervention in NP and AF (NP: 898.4 ± 191.9 ms vs. 1,150.3 ± 320.7 ms, p = 0.008; AF: 738.7 ± 183.8 ms vs. 984.6 ± 178.9 ms, p = 0.008). For Miyazaki score 3, the dGEMRIC indices were significantly lower in IVDs scheduled for surgery compared to non‐operated discs for NP ( p = 0.043) and AF ( p = 0.018). In conclusion we could demonstrate that biochemical imaging with dGEMRIC is feasible in cervical IVDs. Significantly lower dGEMRIC index suggested GAG depletion in degenerated cervical IVD, scheduled for discectomy. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:1824–1830, 2017.