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In-vivo T2-relaxation times of asymptomatic cervical intervertebral discs

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Abstract

Limited research exists on T2-mapping techniques for cervical intervertebral discs and its potential clinical utility. The objective of this research was to investigate the in-vivo T2-relaxation times of cervical discs, including C2–C3 through C7–T1. Ten asymptomatic subjects were imaged using a 3.0 T MR scanner and a sagittal multi-slice multi-echo sequence. Using the mid-sagittal image, intervertebral discs were divided into five regions-of-interest (ROIs), centered along the mid-line of the disc. Average T2 relaxation time values were calculated for each ROI using a mono-exponential fit. Differences in T2 values between disc levels and across ROIs of the same disc were examined. For a given ROI, the results showed a trend of increasing relaxation times moving down the spinal column, particularly in the middle regions (ROIs 2, 3 and 4). The C6–C7 and C7–T1 discs had significantly greater T2 values compared to superior discs (discs between C2 and C6). The results also showed spatial homogeneity of T2 values in the C3–C4, C4–C5, and C5–C6 discs, while C2–C3, C6–C7, and C7–T1 showed significant differences between ROIs. The findings indicate there may be inherent differences in T2-relaxation time properties between different cervical discs. Clinical evaluations utilizing T2-mapping techniques in the cervical spine may need to be level-dependent.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge financial support from the National Institutes of Health (R21AR057989), K2M Group Holdings, Inc., and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

Author contributions statement

Substantial contributions to SJ Driscoll: research design; data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation; manuscript drafting, revision, and approval; W Zhong: data analysis; manuscript revision and approval; M Torriani: data acquisition and interpretation; manuscript revision and approval; KB Wood: data interpretation; manuscript revision and approval; TD Cha: research design; data interpretation; manuscript revision and approval; G Li: research design; data interpretation; manuscript revision and approval.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, GRJ 1215, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Sean J. Driscoll, Weiye Zhong, Haiqing Mao & Guoan Li

  2. Department of Spinal Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital and Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China

    Weiye Zhong

  3. Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, YAW 6E, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Martin Torriani

  4. Spine Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, YAW 3A, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Kirkham B. Wood & Thomas D. Cha

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  1. Sean J. Driscoll
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Correspondence to Guoan Li.

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Driscoll, S.J., Zhong, W., Torriani, M. et al. In-vivo T2-relaxation times of asymptomatic cervical intervertebral discs. Skeletal Radiol 45, 393–400 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-015-2307-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-015-2307-1

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