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T2 shine-through phenomena in diffusion-weighted MR imaging of lumbar discs after oxygen–ozone discolysis: a randomized, double-blind trial with steroid and O2–O3 discolysis versus steroid only

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the discal morpho-structural changes as predictive sign in the clinical outcome after Ozone Therapy in lumbar disc herniation using the T2 shine-through effect in DWI.

Methods

One hundred and fifty-four patients suffering from lumbosciatica (89 men and 65 women; range 23–62 years) were included in previous MR study performed with FSE-T2 and T2-fat, SE-T1 and DWI sequences and were randomly assigned to two groups. Seventy-seven patients (Control Group) underwent conservative treatment with intraforaminal injection of steroid and anesthetic. The remaining 77 patients (Study Group) underwent the same treatment with the addiction of oxygen–ozone (O2–O3). During the coming 6 months, an MRI follow-up with the same sequences was performed. An intervertebral disc volumetric analysis (IDVA), DWI signal score and post treatment clinical outcome evaluation were performed for an assessment of hernia reduction. χ 2 test, Student’s t test and analysis of covariance were used for comparison of variables.

Results

In the Study Group, 58 over 77 patients had a successful outcome (Responders). In the Responders group, DWI T2 shine-through effect was present during MRI follow-up and in particular in 53 of 77 patients in the 6 months of follow-up (P < 0.05). Moreover, in the same group was present a statistically significant discs’ shrinkage in the sixth month of follow-up (P < 0.05) as showed by IDVA.

Conclusions

T2 shine-through effect in DWI is present before morphological disc reduction and moreover could be considered as a predictive sign of response to oxygen–ozone treatment.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical standards

This article contains research involving Human participitants. We obtained informed consent from all participants. No Animals are involved in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, Division of Radiology, University of L’Aquila, 67100, L’Aquila, Italy

    Marco Perri, Giuseppe Grattacaso, Valeria di Tunno, Claudia Marsecano, Antonio Gennarelli, Giulia Michelini, Ernesto Di Cesare & Carlo Masciocchi

  2. Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, Division of Neuroradiology, University of L’Aquila, 67100, L’Aquila, Italy

    Alessandra Splendiani & Massimo Gallucci

Authors
  1. Marco Perri
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  2. Giuseppe Grattacaso
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  3. Valeria di Tunno
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  9. Carlo Masciocchi
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  10. Massimo Gallucci
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Correspondence to Marco Perri.

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Perri, M., Grattacaso, G., di Tunno, V. et al. T2 shine-through phenomena in diffusion-weighted MR imaging of lumbar discs after oxygen–ozone discolysis: a randomized, double-blind trial with steroid and O2–O3 discolysis versus steroid only. Radiol med 120, 941–950 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-015-0519-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-015-0519-z

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