Deep Learning Assisted Classification of T1ρ-MR Based Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Phases

According to the T1ρ value of nucleus pulposus, our previous study has found that intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) can be divided into three phases based on T1ρ-MR, which is helpful for the selection of biomaterial treatment timing. However, the routine MR sequences for patients with IDD are T1- and T2-MR, T1ρ-MR is not commonly used due to long scanning time and extra expenses, which limits the application of T1ρ-MR based IDD phases.

To build a deep learning model to achieve the classification of T1ρ-MR based IDD phases from routine T1-MR images.

Retrospective.

Sixty (M/F: 35/25) patients with low back pain or lower limb radiculopathy are randomly divided into training (N = 50) and test (N = 10) sets.

1.5 T MR scanner; T1-, T2-, and T1ρ-MR sequence (spin echo).

The T1ρ values of the nucleus pulposus in intervertebral discs (IVDs) were measured. IVDs were divided into three phases based on the mean T1ρ value: pre-degeneration phase (mean T1ρ value >110 msec), rapid degeneration phase (mean T1ρ value: 80-110 msec), and late degeneration phase (mean T1ρ value <80 msec). After measurement, the T1ρ values, phases, and levels of IVDs were input into the model as labels.

Intraclass correlation coefficient, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), F1-score, accuracy, precision, and recall (P < 0.05 was considered significant).

In the test dataset, the model achieved a mean average precision of 0.996 for detecting IVD levels. The diagnostic accuracy of the T1ρ-MR based IDD phases was 0.840 and the AUC was 0.871, the average AUC of 5-folds cross validation was 0.843.

The proposed deep learning model achieved the classification of T1ρ-MR based IDD phases from routine T1-MR images, which may provide a method to facilitate the application of T1ρ-MR in IDD.

4 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.