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Evaluation of intervertebral disc cartilaginous endplate structure using magnetic resonance imaging

European Spine Journal volume 22, pages 1820–1828 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The cartilaginous endplate (CEP) is a thin layer of hyaline cartilage positioned between the vertebral endplate and nucleus pulposus (NP) that functions both as a mechanical barrier and as a gateway for nutrient transport into the disc. Despite its critical role in disc nutrition and degeneration, the morphology of the CEP has not been well characterized. The objective of this study was to visualize and report observations of the CEP three-dimensional morphology, and quantify CEP thickness using an MRI FLASH (fast low-angle shot) pulse sequence.

Methods

MR imaging of ex vivo human cadaveric lumbar spine segments (N = 17) was performed in a 7T MRI scanner with sequence parameters that were selected by utilizing high-resolution T1 mapping, and an analytical MRI signal model to optimize image contrast between CEP and NP. The CEP thickness at five locations along the mid-sagittal AP direction (center, 5 mm, 10 mm off-center towards anterior and posterior) was measured, and analyzed using two-way ANOVA and a post hoc Bonferonni test. For further investigation, six in vivo volunteers were imaged with a similar sequence in a 3T MRI scanner. In addition, decalcified and undecalcified histology was performed, which confirmed that the FLASH sequence successfully detected the CEP.

Results

CEP thickness determined by MRI in the mid-sagittal plane across all lumbar disc levels and locations was 0.77 ± 0.24 mm ex vivo. The CEP thickness was not different across disc levels, but was thinner toward the center of the disc.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the potential of MRI FLASH imaging for structural quantification of the CEP geometry, which may be developed as a technique to evaluate changes in the CEP with disc degeneration in future applications.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by NIH grants RC1 AR058450 and R01 AR050052.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Sung M. Moon, Jonathon H. Yoder & Lachlan J. Smith

  2. Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Alexander C. Wright

  3. Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, USA

    Edward J. Vresilovic

  4. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 125 E. Delaware Ave., Newark, DE, 19716, USA

    Dawn M. Elliott

  5. MR Systems, GE Healthcare, Florence, SC, USA

    Sung M. Moon

Authors
  1. Sung M. Moon
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  2. Jonathon H. Yoder
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  4. Lachlan J. Smith
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  5. Edward J. Vresilovic
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  6. Dawn M. Elliott
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Correspondence to Dawn M. Elliott.

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Moon, S.M., Yoder, J.H., Wright, A.C. et al. Evaluation of intervertebral disc cartilaginous endplate structure using magnetic resonance imaging. Eur Spine J 22, 1820–1828 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2798-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2798-1

Keywords

  • Cartilaginous endplate
  • Endplate morphology
  • Intervertebral disc
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)