TY  - JOUR
A1  - Zhang, Chao
A1  - Lin, Yuan
A1  - Han, Zhihua
A1  - Gao, Liang
A1  - Guo, Ruipeng
A1  - Shi, Qinglei
A1  - Chen, Lei
A1  - Chen, Chun
T1  - Feasibility of T2 mapping and magnetic transfer ratio for diagnosis of intervertebral disc degeneration at the cervico-thoracic junction: a pilot study
T2  - BioMed Research International
N2  - Background. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) at the cervicothoracic junction of spine is clinically relevant, however, little attention had been paid. T2 mapping and magnetic transfer ratio (MTR) are useful magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to quantitatively evaluate IDD, revealing the biochemical changes within the intervertebral disc. To compare T2 mapping with MTR imaging regarding their accuracy to quantitatively diagnose intervertebral disc degeneration at the cervicothoracic junction, influences of anatomical level, gender, age, and Pfrrmann grade of T2 relaxation time values and MTR values were evaluated.
Methods. Sixty-seven patients with neck and upper back pain were included and examined with both T2 mapping andMTR imaging. Te Pfrrmann grade, T2 relaxation time values, and MTR value of each disc between C7 and T3 were measured. Diferences were investigated among diferent segmental levels, genders, age ranges, and Pfrrmann grades. Te diagnostic accuracy of both MRI techniques was compared using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. 
Results. No signifcant diference was detected comparing T2 relaxation time values or MTR values among diferent anatomical levels, genders, and segmental levels. And we generally found that T2 relaxation time values decreased, while MTR value increased with increasing age. Importantly, we demonstrated the signifcant correlation between either T2 relaxation time values or MTR value and Pfrrmann grade. 
Conclusion. We proved the better accuracy of T2 mapping over MTR imaging to quantitatively evaluate the intervertebral disc degeneration of the cervicothoracic junction.
Y1  - 2019
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/50693
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-506936
VL  - 2019
IS  - Article ID 6396073
PB  - Hindawi
ER  -