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Quantitative analysis of intervertebral disc degeneration using Q‐space imaging in a rat model
Author(s) -
Nakashima Daisuke,
Fujita Nobuyuki,
Hata Junichi,
Komaki Yuji,
Suzuki Satoshi,
Nagura Takeo,
Fujiyoshi Kanehiro,
Watanabe Kota,
Tsuji Takashi,
Okano Hideyuki,
Jinzaki Masahiro,
Matsumoto Morio,
Nakamura Masaya
Publication year - 2020
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.24757
Subject(s) - magnetic resonance imaging , medicine , nuclear medicine , intervertebral disc , diffusion mri , kurtosis , effective diffusion coefficient , biomedical engineering , radiology , mathematics , statistics
Abstract The degree of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is qualitatively evaluated on T2‐weighted imaging (T2WI). However, it is difficult to assess subtle changes in IVD degeneration using T2WI. Q‐space imaging (QSI) is a quantitative diffusion‐weighted imaging modality used to detect subtle changes in microenvironments. This study aimed to evaluate whether QSI can detect the inhibitory effects of the antioxidant N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) in IVD degeneration. We classified female Wistar rats into control, puncture, and NAC groups (n = 5 per group). In the puncture and NAC groups, IVDs were punctured using a needle. The antioxidant NAC, which suppresses the progression of IVD degeneration, was orally administered in the NAC group 1 week prior to puncture. The progression and inhibitory effect of NAC in IVD degeneration were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): IVD height, T2 mapping, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and QSI. MRI was performed using a 7‐Tesla system with a conventional probe (20 IVDs in each group). QSI parameters that were assessed included Kurtosis, the probability at zero displacement (ZDP), and full width at half maximum (FWHM). IVD degeneration by puncture was confirmed by histology, IVD height, T2 mapping, ADC, and all QSI parameters ( P < .001); however, the inhibitory effect of NAC was confirmed only by QSI parameters (Kurtosis and ZDP: both P < .001; FWHM: P < .01). Kurtosis had the largest effect size (Kurtosis: 1.13, ZDP: 1.06, and FWHM: 1.02) when puncture and NAC groups were compared. QSI has a higher sensitivity than conventional quantitative methods for detecting the progressive change and inhibitory effect of NAC in IVD degeneration.