Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosis of intervertebral disc degeneration of the cervico-thoracic junction: a pilot study.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to appraise two quantitative magnetic resonance imaging techniques, T2* imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), for the diagnosis of the intervertebral disc degeneration of the cervico-thoracic junction. Influence of specific factors and diagnostic accuracy of both techniques were particularly explored. Sixty-one volunteers with neck and upper back pain were recruited and evaluated with both T2* imaging and DWI. The Pfirrmann grade, T2* relaxation time and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of each disc between C7 and T3 were recorded. Stratified analyses were performed for different anatomic levels, genders, age ranges and Pfirrmann grades. The diagnostic accuracy of both techniques was investigated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. N

SUBMITTER: Han Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5883133 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature