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Optical Sectioning and Visualization of the Intervertebral Disc from Embryonic Development to Degeneration
06:22

Optical Sectioning and Visualization of the Intervertebral Disc from Embryonic Development to Degeneration

Published on: July 8, 2021

Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy of the intervertebral disc

S Majumdar1

  • 1Musculoskeletal and Quantitative Imaging Research Group, Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. sharmila.majumdar@radiology.ucsf.edu

NMR in Biomedicine
|November 1, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Intervertebral disc disease impacts health and the economy. This review explores MRI techniques for objectively assessing disc health and pain, offering quantitative insights.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Imaging
  • Radiology
  • Musculoskeletal Science

Background:

  • Intervertebral disc disease presents a growing health and economic challenge.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is crucial for disc assessment, but objective correlation with pain remains difficult.
  • Current imaging lacks quantitative methods for disc health evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current and emerging MRI techniques for intervertebral disc assessment.
  • To explore methods for correlating imaging findings with disc degeneration and pain.
  • To highlight MRI's potential for quantitative disc health evaluation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of established MRI techniques: grading, relaxation time measurements, diffusion, and contrast perfusion.
  • Discussion of advanced methods: high-resolution magic-angle spinning for in vitro studies.
  • Focus on correlating imaging data with biochemical and morphological disc information.

Main Results:

  • Various MRI techniques offer insights into disc morphology and biochemistry.
  • Advanced methods show potential for detailed in vitro disc degeneration analysis.
  • Quantitative MRI holds promise for objective disc health assessment.

Conclusions:

  • MRI techniques are evolving for comprehensive intervertebral disc evaluation.
  • Quantitative MRI can provide objective measures of disc health, potentially linking to pain.
  • Further research in MRI holds significant promise for managing disc disease.

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