Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Chronic Spinal Cord Compression
07:00

Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Chronic Spinal Cord Compression

Published on: May 7, 2019

Assessment of the Correlation between Apparent Diffusion Coefficient and Intervertebral Disk Degeneration Using 3

K Maasumi1, J Tehranzadeh, L T Muftuler

  • 1Department of Neurology, University of California; Irvine, CA, USA - kmaasumi@uci.edu.

The Neuroradiology Journal
|September 25, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (DW-MR) imaging shows a moderate correlation between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and degenerative disc disease (DDD). However, this correlation is insufficient for clinical diagnosis of DDD.

Area of Science:

  • Radiology and Imaging Science
  • Orthopedics and Musculoskeletal Research
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common cause of low back pain.
  • Accurate assessment of DDD is crucial for effective treatment.
  • Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (DW-MR) imaging offers potential for non-invasive tissue characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the correlation between mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and the severity of degenerative disc disease (DDD).
  • To assess the utility of DW-MR imaging in quantifying lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 34 subjects for lumbar spine imaging.
  • Utilized 3 Tesla MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences.
  • Acquired T2-weighted (T2W) scans and DWIs for 170 intervertebral discs.
  • Graded discs for DDD and calculated mean ADC values.

Main Results:

  • A moderate positive correlation (r = 0.65) was observed between mean ADC and disc degeneration.
  • Mid-sagittal ADC also showed a significant correlation (r = 0.61) with DDD.
  • Mean ADC values differed significantly across degeneration grades, except between grades 4 and 5.
  • No significant difference in ADC was found between different lumbar levels.

Conclusions:

  • DW-MR imaging demonstrates a moderate correlation between ADC values and DDD.
  • The current correlation is not strong enough for routine clinical determination of DDD.
  • Further research may explore advanced DWI techniques for improved diagnostic accuracy.

More Related Videos

Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases09:33

Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Published on: July 28, 2013

Tracking the Mammary Architectural Features and Detecting Breast Cancer with Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging15:48

Tracking the Mammary Architectural Features and Detecting Breast Cancer with Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Published on: December 15, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion01:17

Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion

Understanding and evaluating diffusion and perfusion is critical in assessing a patient's respiratory and circulatory health. These processes play key roles in maintaining the body's internal environment, ensuring that tissues receive adequate oxygen while waste products are efficiently removed.
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this principle...
Degenerative Disc Disease I: Introduction01:27

Degenerative Disc Disease I: Introduction

Degenerative disc disease is a chronic condition in which intervertebral discs gradually lose structure and function. It is not infectious or autoimmune; rather, it results from age-related biochemical and mechanical changes, influenced by genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors.Structure and Function of DiscsThe spine contains 23 intervertebral discs that absorb load, distribute forces, maintain spacing, and allow flexibility. Each disc consists of a nucleus pulposus, a gel-like core...
Magnetic Resonance Imaging01:24

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical imaging technique based on a phenomenon of nuclear physics discovered in the 1930s, in which matter exposed to magnetic fields and radio waves was found to emit radio signals. In 1970, a physician and researcher named Raymond Damadian noticed that malignant (cancerous) tissue gave off different signals than normal body tissue. He applied for a patent for the first MRI scanning device in clinical use by the early 1980s. The early MRI...
Degenerative Disc Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:23

Degenerative Disc Disease ll: Pathophysiology

The symptoms of degenerative disc disease arise from a combination of mechanical compression, vascular compromise, and biochemical inflammation, which together disrupt nerve function and produce pain.Mechanical CompressionDisc degeneration reduces height and elasticity, predisposing to herniation of the nucleus pulposus, a major cause of radicular pain. Herniations may be protrusion (bulging with intact annulus), extrusion (nucleus extends beyond disc but remains connected), or sequestration...