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- Title
The Correlation Of 9.4 T Mri Nucleus Pulposus/Annulus Fibrosus Distinction With Biochemical Markers Of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.
- Authors
Daly, Chris; Sher, Idrees; Ghosh, Peter; Badal, Tanya; Shimmon, Ronald; Jenkin, Graham; Oehme, David; Chandra, Ronil; Goldschlager, Tony
- Abstract
Introduction: The 9.4 T MRI is an advanced preclinical imaging system that provides superior resolution of anatomical and morphological detail. Our group has previously described the development and application of a 9.4 T MRI nucleus pulposus(NP)/annulus fibrosus(AF) distinction score and the correlation of this simplified scoring system with 3 T and 9.4 T MRI Pfirrmann grades. We describe the correlation of the simplified NP/AF distinction score with biochemical measures of intervertebral disc degeneration. Material and Methods: Eighteen adult ewes underwent surgical lumbar intervertebral disc injury via a lateral retroperitoneal approach. Disc injury was performed at two levels with the adjacent non-injured levels serving as controls. Non-operated lumbar discs served as normal controls. Necropsies were performed at six months. Lumbar spines underwent 9.4 T MRI axial imaging. Four observers graded the images using the NP/AF distinction score. Spinal columns were dissected, individual discs sectioned, subdivision of the discs into regional segments performed and NP tissues were analysed biochemically for their proteoglycan (as sulphated-glycosaminoglycans), collagen (as hydroxyproline) and DNA content. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS statistical package consisting of Kappa scores for inter-observer reliability, Pearson correlation co-efficients and simple linear regression. Results: The 9.4 T NP/AF distinction score demonstrated good inter-observer reliability with a kappa score of 0.94. A moderately strong correlation between NP/AF distinction score and collagen was observed with a Pearson correlation co-efficient of 0.719 and R2 of 0.517 (both p < 0.001). As expected, there was a negative correlation between NP/AF distinction and nucleus pulposus proteoglycan content with a Pearson correlation co-efficient of -0.545 and R2 of 0.297 (both p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation with nucleus pulposus DNA with a Pearson Correlation score of -0.249 (p = 0.170) and R2 of 0.62 (p = 0.170). Conclusion: The NP/AF distinction score is a simple system for classifying intervertebral disc degeneration on 9.4 T MRI that demonstrates high degree of inter-observer reliability. This study demonstrated a moderately strong correlation of NP/AF distinction score with NP collagen content and a weaker negative correlation with proteoglycan content. Increased NP collagen content is a well-described feature of intervertebral disc degeneration and typically occurs in tandem with reduced NP proteoglycan content. The advance in resolution afforded by the 9.4 T MRI affords the ability to detect subtle changes in intervertebral disc morphology reflective of underlying degenerative and biochemical changes. The strength of correlation observed between this simple radiological classification system and biochemical markers of intervertebral disc degeneration is suggestive of the potential of the 9.4 T MRI in the investigation and classification of disc degeneration in the future.
- Publication
Global Spine Journal, 2018, Vol 8, p182S
- ISSN
2192-5682
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/2192568218771072