자화전이조영을 이용한 요추간판의 초기 퇴행성 변화에 대한 자기공명영상의 연구

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain magnetization transfer ratio(MTR) of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus and to0aassess the feasibility of utilizing the changes of these MTRs as an early indicator of disk degeneration.0aMATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images of lumbar spine with magnetization transfer(MT) technique in 420apatients were obtained. spin echo techniques (600/14) with same TR/TE with 1KHz off-resonance saturation0awere employed in 1.0T MR system. MTRs were calculated in two regions, anterior annulus fibrosus and nucleus0apulposus, and the results were compared between the normal and degenerative disks, from grade I to IV, on0aT2-weighted images.0aRESULTS: MTRs of the nucleus pulposus were 17.6% in the normal disks, and 26.7%, 28.4%, 29.1%, 29.7% in0adegenerative disks, from grade I to IV, respectively, with a significant difference(P<0.05). On the other hand,0aMTRs in the annulus fibrosus were 30.2% in the normal disks and 31.5%, 33.2%, 32.1% and 35.6% in degenerative0adisks, from grade I to IV, respectively, without significant difference.0aCONCLUSION: Since MTRs are significantly higher in degenerative nucleus pulposus than those of the normal0adisks, increased MTRs in the nucleus pulposus can be used as an early sign of the degeneration of the nucleus0apulposus.