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Association of lumbar artery narrowing, degenerative changes in disc and endplate and apparent diffusion in disc on postcontrast enhancement of lumbar intervertebral disc

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Abstract

Objective

A decreased supply of nutrition to the intervertebral disc can lead to disc degeneration. Nutrient supply can be simulated in vivo by measuring gadolinium enhancement of the disc. We aimed to study the changes associated with disc degeneration that may have effect on the nutrition of the disc, i.e. lumbar artery narrowing, Modic changes, endplate defects, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in nucleus pulposus.

Patients and methods

Twenty male volunteers underwent a lumbar spine examination at 1.5 T for anatomical imaging, diffusion weighted imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, and for T1 relaxation time quantification of contrast enhancement of intervertebral disc.

Results

Enhancement of the disc increased with degeneration. Disc space narrowing associated strongly with the enhancement (Pearson’s correlation coefficient 0.46, P < 0.001). The enhancement rate in discs adjacent to Modic type 2 changes was 24%, adjacent to type 1/2 changes 58%, and 13% in the absence of Modic changes. Discs adjacent to endplate defects enhanced 32% compared to 10% of normal endplates. Lumbar artery narrowing or ADC in the disc were not associated with the enhancement.

Conclusion

Increased enhancement of a degenerated disc is associated mostly with disc space narrowing and with the presence of degenerative endplate changes and endplate defects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, P.O. Box 50, 90029, Oulu, Finland

    Jaakko Niinimäki, Arto Korkiakoski, Outi Parviainen, Marianne Haapea, Mari Kuisma, Risto O. Ojala, Osmo Tervonen & Miika T. Nieminen

  2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland

    Arto Korkiakoski & Jaro Karppinen

  3. Musculoskeletal Centre, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland

    Jaro Karppinen

  4. ORTON Orthopedic Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    Jaro Karppinen

  5. Department of Sports Medicine, Oulu Deaconess Institute, Oulu, Finland

    Raija Korpelainen

Authors
  1. Jaakko Niinimäki
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  2. Arto Korkiakoski
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  3. Outi Parviainen
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  4. Marianne Haapea
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  5. Mari Kuisma
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  6. Risto O. Ojala
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  7. Jaro Karppinen
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  8. Raija Korpelainen
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  9. Osmo Tervonen
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  10. Miika T. Nieminen
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Correspondence to Jaakko Niinimäki.

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Niinimäki, J., Korkiakoski, A., Parviainen, O. et al. Association of lumbar artery narrowing, degenerative changes in disc and endplate and apparent diffusion in disc on postcontrast enhancement of lumbar intervertebral disc. Magn Reson Mater Phy 22, 101–109 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-008-0151-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-008-0151-1

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