Comparison of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient and T2 Relaxation Time Variation Patterns in Assessment of Age and Disc Level Related Intervertebral Disc Changes

It has been reported recently that very delayed damage can occur as a result of focal cerebral ischemia induced by vascular occlusion of short duration. With use of diffusion-, T2-, and contrast-enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, the occlusion time dependence together with the temporal profile for this delayed response in a rat model of transient focal cortical ischemia have been established. The distal branch of the middle cerebral artery was occluded for 20, 30, 45, or 90 minutes. Twenty minutes of vascular occlusion with reperfusion exhibited no significant mean change in either the apparent diffusion coefficient of water (ADC) or the T2 relaxation time at 6, 24, 48, or 72 hours after reperfusion ( P = 0.97 and 0.70, respectively). Ninety minutes of ischemia caused dramatic tissue injury at 6 hours, as indicated by an increase in T2 relaxation times to 135% of the contralateral values ( P < 0.01). However, at intermediate periods of ischemia (30 to 45 minutes), complete reversal of the ADC was seen at 6 hours after reperfusion but was followed by a secondary decline over time, such that a 25% reduction in tissue ADC was seen at 24 as compared with 6 hours ( P < 0.02). This secondary response was accompanied by an increase in cerebral blood volume (CBV), as shown by contrast-enhanced dynamic MRI (120% of contralateral values; P < 0.001), an increase in T2 relaxation time (132%; P < 0.01), together with clear morphological signs of cell death. By day 18, the mean volume of missing cortical tissue measured with high-resolution MRI in animals occluded for 30 and 45 minutes was 50% smaller than that in 90-minute occluded animals ( P < 0.005). These data show that ultimate infarct size is reduced after early reperfusion and is occlusion time dependent. The early tissue recovery that is seen with intermediate occlusion times can be followed by cell death, which has a delayed onset and is accompanied by an increase in CBV.

Download Full-text

In vivo quantification of spinal and bulbar motor neuron degeneration in the G93A-SOD1 transgenic mouse model of ALS by T2 relaxation time and apparent diffusion coefficient

Experimental Neurology ◽

10.1016/j.expneurol.2006.04.007 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 201 (2) ◽

pp. 293-300 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

H NIESSEN ◽

F ANGENSTEIN ◽

K SANDER ◽

W KUNZ ◽

M TEUCHERT ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diffusion Coefficient ◽

Relaxation Time ◽

Transgenic Mouse Model ◽

T2 Relaxation Time ◽

T2 Relaxation ◽

Motor Neuron Degeneration ◽

Neuron Degeneration ◽

Apparent Diffusion ◽

G93a Sod1

Download Full-text

Apparent diffusion coefficients and T2 relaxation time measurements to evaluate disc degeneration . A quantitative MR study of young patients with previous vertebral fracture

Acta Radiologica ◽

10.1034/j.1600-0455.2001.420610.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 42 (6) ◽

pp. 585-591 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

L. Kerttula ◽

M. Kurunlahti ◽

J. Jauhiainen ◽

A. Koivula ◽

J. Oikarinen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Relaxation Time ◽

Vertebral Fracture ◽

Diffusion Coefficients ◽

Young Patients ◽

T2 Relaxation Time ◽

T2 Relaxation ◽

Apparent Diffusion Coefficients ◽

Quantitative Mr ◽

Apparent Diffusion ◽

Mr Study

Download Full-text

Feasibility of T2 Mapping and Magnetic Transfer Ratio for Diagnosis of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration at the Cervicothoracic Junction: A Pilot Study

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2019/6396073 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Chao Zhang ◽

Yuan Lin ◽

Zhihua Han ◽

Liang Gao ◽

Ruipeng Guo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Relaxation Time ◽

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

T2 Mapping ◽

T2 Relaxation Time ◽

T2 Relaxation ◽

Cervicothoracic Junction ◽

Magnetic Transfer ◽

Pfirrmann Grade

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 Pfirrmann 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 and MTR imaging. The Pfirrmann grade, T2 relaxation time values, and MTR value of each disc between C7 and T3 were measured. Differences were investigated among different segmental levels, genders, age ranges, and Pfirrmann grades. The diagnostic accuracy of both MRI techniques was compared using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results. No significant difference was detected comparing T2 relaxation time values or MTR values among different 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 significant correlation between either T2 relaxation time values or MTR value and Pfirrmann grade. Conclusion. We proved the better accuracy of T2 mapping over MTR imaging to quantitatively evaluate the intervertebral disc degeneration of the cervicothoracic junction.

Download Full-text