A narrative review of diffusion kurtosis MRI parameters in diagnosing degenerative spine diseases in animal models

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Radiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Degenerative spine disease significantly impacts animal health, affecting mobility and thermoregulation.
• Early diagnosis is crucial for effective management and treatment of spinal degeneration.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is vital for identifying degenerative changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) parameters for the early diagnosis of degenerative spine disease in animal models.
• To assess the association between specific DKI metrics and early-stage spinal degeneration.
• To compare DKI's diagnostic capabilities with conventional MRI sequences.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted following the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles guidelines.
• Two relevant studies comparing DKI parameters with T2-weighted fast spin echo sequences were identified.
• Analysis included disc grading, gender differences, ROC analysis, and the relationship between DKI and post-puncture procedures.

Main Results:

• DKI demonstrated higher sensitivity than conventional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging in detecting subtle microstructural changes.
• Specific DKI metrics were associated with early-stage spinal degeneration.
• DKI shows potential for improved diagnostic accuracy in intervertebral disc and spinal cord conditions.

Conclusions:

• DKI is a sensitive tool for the early diagnosis of degenerative spine disease in animal models.
• This advanced MRI technique can improve diagnostic accuracy and inform targeted treatments.
• Further research is needed to explore the full potential of DKI in veterinary spinal diagnostics.