Cartilage Endplate Thickness Variation Measured by Ultrashort Echo-Time MRI Is Associated With Adjacent Disc Degeneration

A magnetic resonance imaging study of human cadaver spines. To investigate associations between cartilage endplate (CEP) thickness and disc degeneration. Damage to the CEP is associated with spinal injury and back pain. However, CEP morphology and its association with disc degeneration have not been...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976) Vol. 43; no. 10; p. E592
Main Authors: Berg-Johansen, Britta, Han, Misung, Fields, Aaron J, Liebenberg, Ellen C, Lim, Brandon J, Larson, Peder Ez, Gunduz-Demir, Cigdem, Kazakia, Galateia J, Krug, Roland, Lotz, Jeffrey C
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 15.05.2018
Subjects:
ISSN:1528-1159, 1528-1159
Online Access:Get more information
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Abstract A magnetic resonance imaging study of human cadaver spines. To investigate associations between cartilage endplate (CEP) thickness and disc degeneration. Damage to the CEP is associated with spinal injury and back pain. However, CEP morphology and its association with disc degeneration have not been well characterized. Ten lumbar motion segments with varying degrees of disc degeneration were harvested from six cadaveric spines and scanned with magnetic resonance imaging in the sagittal plane using a T2-weighted two-dimensional (2D) sequence, a three-dimensional (3D) ultrashort echo-time (UTE) imaging sequence, and a 3D T1ρ mapping sequence. CEP thicknesses were calculated from 3D UTE image data using a custom, automated algorithm, and these values were validated against histology measurements. Pfirrmann grades and T1ρ values in the disc were assessed and correlated with CEP thickness. The mean CEP thickness calculated from UTE images was 0.74 ± 0.04 mm. Statistical comparisons between histology and UTE-derived measurements of CEP thickness showed significant agreement, with the mean difference not significantly different from zero (P = 0.32). Within-disc variation of T1ρ (standard deviation) was significantly lower for Pfirrmann grade 4 than Pfirrmann grade 3 (P < 0.05). Within-disc variation of T1ρ and adjacent CEP thickness heterogeneity (coefficient of variation) had a significant negative correlation (r = -0.65, P = 0.04). The standard deviation of T1ρand the mean CEP thickness showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.40, P = 0.26). This study demonstrates that quantitative measurements of CEP thickness measured from UTE magnetic resonance imaging are associated with disc degeneration. Our results suggest that variability in CEP thickness and T1ρ, rather than their mean values, may serve as valuable diagnostic markers for disc degeneration. N/A.
AbstractList A magnetic resonance imaging study of human cadaver spines.STUDY DESIGNA magnetic resonance imaging study of human cadaver spines.To investigate associations between cartilage endplate (CEP) thickness and disc degeneration.OBJECTIVETo investigate associations between cartilage endplate (CEP) thickness and disc degeneration.Damage to the CEP is associated with spinal injury and back pain. However, CEP morphology and its association with disc degeneration have not been well characterized.SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATADamage to the CEP is associated with spinal injury and back pain. However, CEP morphology and its association with disc degeneration have not been well characterized.Ten lumbar motion segments with varying degrees of disc degeneration were harvested from six cadaveric spines and scanned with magnetic resonance imaging in the sagittal plane using a T2-weighted two-dimensional (2D) sequence, a three-dimensional (3D) ultrashort echo-time (UTE) imaging sequence, and a 3D T1ρ mapping sequence. CEP thicknesses were calculated from 3D UTE image data using a custom, automated algorithm, and these values were validated against histology measurements. Pfirrmann grades and T1ρ values in the disc were assessed and correlated with CEP thickness.METHODSTen lumbar motion segments with varying degrees of disc degeneration were harvested from six cadaveric spines and scanned with magnetic resonance imaging in the sagittal plane using a T2-weighted two-dimensional (2D) sequence, a three-dimensional (3D) ultrashort echo-time (UTE) imaging sequence, and a 3D T1ρ mapping sequence. CEP thicknesses were calculated from 3D UTE image data using a custom, automated algorithm, and these values were validated against histology measurements. Pfirrmann grades and T1ρ values in the disc were assessed and correlated with CEP thickness.The mean CEP thickness calculated from UTE images was 0.74 ± 0.04 mm. Statistical comparisons between histology and UTE-derived measurements of CEP thickness showed significant agreement, with the mean difference not significantly different from zero (P = 0.32). Within-disc variation of T1ρ (standard deviation) was significantly lower for Pfirrmann grade 4 than Pfirrmann grade 3 (P < 0.05). Within-disc variation of T1ρ and adjacent CEP thickness heterogeneity (coefficient of variation) had a significant negative correlation (r = -0.65, P = 0.04). The standard deviation of T1ρand the mean CEP thickness showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.40, P = 0.26).RESULTSThe mean CEP thickness calculated from UTE images was 0.74 ± 0.04 mm. Statistical comparisons between histology and UTE-derived measurements of CEP thickness showed significant agreement, with the mean difference not significantly different from zero (P = 0.32). Within-disc variation of T1ρ (standard deviation) was significantly lower for Pfirrmann grade 4 than Pfirrmann grade 3 (P < 0.05). Within-disc variation of T1ρ and adjacent CEP thickness heterogeneity (coefficient of variation) had a significant negative correlation (r = -0.65, P = 0.04). The standard deviation of T1ρand the mean CEP thickness showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.40, P = 0.26).This study demonstrates that quantitative measurements of CEP thickness measured from UTE magnetic resonance imaging are associated with disc degeneration. Our results suggest that variability in CEP thickness and T1ρ, rather than their mean values, may serve as valuable diagnostic markers for disc degeneration.CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrates that quantitative measurements of CEP thickness measured from UTE magnetic resonance imaging are associated with disc degeneration. Our results suggest that variability in CEP thickness and T1ρ, rather than their mean values, may serve as valuable diagnostic markers for disc degeneration.N/A.LEVEL OF EVIDENCEN/A.
A magnetic resonance imaging study of human cadaver spines. To investigate associations between cartilage endplate (CEP) thickness and disc degeneration. Damage to the CEP is associated with spinal injury and back pain. However, CEP morphology and its association with disc degeneration have not been well characterized. Ten lumbar motion segments with varying degrees of disc degeneration were harvested from six cadaveric spines and scanned with magnetic resonance imaging in the sagittal plane using a T2-weighted two-dimensional (2D) sequence, a three-dimensional (3D) ultrashort echo-time (UTE) imaging sequence, and a 3D T1ρ mapping sequence. CEP thicknesses were calculated from 3D UTE image data using a custom, automated algorithm, and these values were validated against histology measurements. Pfirrmann grades and T1ρ values in the disc were assessed and correlated with CEP thickness. The mean CEP thickness calculated from UTE images was 0.74 ± 0.04 mm. Statistical comparisons between histology and UTE-derived measurements of CEP thickness showed significant agreement, with the mean difference not significantly different from zero (P = 0.32). Within-disc variation of T1ρ (standard deviation) was significantly lower for Pfirrmann grade 4 than Pfirrmann grade 3 (P < 0.05). Within-disc variation of T1ρ and adjacent CEP thickness heterogeneity (coefficient of variation) had a significant negative correlation (r = -0.65, P = 0.04). The standard deviation of T1ρand the mean CEP thickness showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.40, P = 0.26). This study demonstrates that quantitative measurements of CEP thickness measured from UTE magnetic resonance imaging are associated with disc degeneration. Our results suggest that variability in CEP thickness and T1ρ, rather than their mean values, may serve as valuable diagnostic markers for disc degeneration. N/A.
Author Lotz, Jeffrey C
Fields, Aaron J
Berg-Johansen, Britta
Krug, Roland
Larson, Peder Ez
Gunduz-Demir, Cigdem
Liebenberg, Ellen C
Kazakia, Galateia J
Han, Misung
Lim, Brandon J
Author_xml – sequence: 1
  givenname: Britta
  surname: Berg-Johansen
  fullname: Berg-Johansen, Britta
  organization: Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley/UCSF Joint Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley, CA
– sequence: 2
  givenname: Misung
  surname: Han
  fullname: Han, Misung
  organization: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA
– sequence: 3
  givenname: Aaron J
  surname: Fields
  fullname: Fields, Aaron J
  organization: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA
– sequence: 4
  givenname: Ellen C
  surname: Liebenberg
  fullname: Liebenberg, Ellen C
  organization: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA
– sequence: 5
  givenname: Brandon J
  surname: Lim
  fullname: Lim, Brandon J
  organization: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA
– sequence: 6
  givenname: Peder Ez
  surname: Larson
  fullname: Larson, Peder Ez
  organization: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA
– sequence: 7
  givenname: Cigdem
  surname: Gunduz-Demir
  fullname: Gunduz-Demir, Cigdem
  organization: Neuroscience Graduate Program, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
– sequence: 8
  givenname: Galateia J
  surname: Kazakia
  fullname: Kazakia, Galateia J
  organization: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA
– sequence: 9
  givenname: Roland
  surname: Krug
  fullname: Krug, Roland
  organization: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA
– sequence: 10
  givenname: Jeffrey C
  surname: Lotz
  fullname: Lotz, Jeffrey C
  organization: Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley/UCSF Joint Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley, CA
BackLink https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28984733$$D View this record in MEDLINE/PubMed
BookMark eNpNkF9PwjAUxRuDkT_6DYzpoy_Ddl3Z-oiASgIxQdDHpesurLh10HYPfHsXxYT7cm9ufufk5PRRx9QGELqnZEiJiJ-eVx9DcjFhxMIr1KM8TAJKuehc3F3Ud27fQiNGxQ3qholIopixHjpNpPW6lDvAM5MfSukBrwutvg04hz-l1dLr2uAlSNdYyHF2wpvSW-mK2no8U0UdrHUFeLma47nDY-dq1Wpa8kv7Ao_zvVRgPJ5qp_AUdmDA_lreouutLB3cnfcAbV5m68lbsHh_nU_Gi0BFJGaBJJFQLGaEiG37AcZZTIUiVGSCKykgz8lIwZaoLJcMgKm2ioRljPKYq4SHA_T453uw9bEB59OqjQJlKQ3UjUupiJKYR2REW_ThjDZZBXl6sLqS9pT-1xX-ALt8bzo
CitedBy_id crossref_primary_10_1002_jmri_28927
crossref_primary_10_1016_j_jbiomech_2018_12_004
crossref_primary_10_1002_jmri_28928
crossref_primary_10_3390_diagnostics12020420
crossref_primary_10_3390_cells13242103
crossref_primary_10_1002_jmri_27959
crossref_primary_10_1093_pm_pnac130
crossref_primary_10_1002_jmri_27858
crossref_primary_10_1093_pm_pnab040
crossref_primary_10_3390_cells13171402
crossref_primary_10_1002_jsp2_1294
crossref_primary_10_1016_j_jmbbm_2021_104961
crossref_primary_10_1016_j_joca_2019_01_013
crossref_primary_10_1155_2021_2545459
crossref_primary_10_1016_j_spinee_2022_09_010
crossref_primary_10_1002_jsp2_1078
crossref_primary_10_1186_s12880_023_01014_5
crossref_primary_10_1111_os_12727
crossref_primary_10_3390_ijms21103601
crossref_primary_10_3390_ijms23136915
crossref_primary_10_1007_s00330_020_07597_9
crossref_primary_10_1007_s00586_021_06755_x
crossref_primary_10_1111_joa_13349
crossref_primary_10_3389_fbioe_2021_685799
crossref_primary_10_1016_j_clinbiomech_2024_106356
crossref_primary_10_1002_jbmr_4009
crossref_primary_10_1002_jor_24787
crossref_primary_10_1016_j_jmbbm_2023_106334
crossref_primary_10_1002_nbm_4069
crossref_primary_10_1053_j_sult_2018_11_006
crossref_primary_10_3389_fphys_2024_1394189
crossref_primary_10_1063_5_0086459
crossref_primary_10_1007_s10616_025_00764_0
crossref_primary_10_1007_s40610_018_0105_y
crossref_primary_10_1186_s12880_024_01489_w
crossref_primary_10_3390_bioengineering12020141
crossref_primary_10_1002_jmri_29562
crossref_primary_10_1016_j_jmbbm_2022_105542
crossref_primary_10_3390_biom14040393
crossref_primary_10_1002_jsp2_1167
crossref_primary_10_1186_s12893_020_00729_4
crossref_primary_10_1007_s00586_023_07739_9
crossref_primary_10_1007_s11517_022_02750_6
ContentType Journal Article
DBID CGR
CUY
CVF
ECM
EIF
NPM
7X8
DOI 10.1097/BRS.0000000000002432
DatabaseName Medline
MEDLINE
MEDLINE (Ovid)
MEDLINE
MEDLINE
PubMed
MEDLINE - Academic
DatabaseTitle MEDLINE
Medline Complete
MEDLINE with Full Text
PubMed
MEDLINE (Ovid)
MEDLINE - Academic
DatabaseTitleList MEDLINE - Academic
MEDLINE
Database_xml – sequence: 1
  dbid: NPM
  name: PubMed
  url: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed
  sourceTypes: Index Database
– sequence: 2
  dbid: 7X8
  name: MEDLINE - Academic
  url: https://search.proquest.com/medline
  sourceTypes: Aggregation Database
DeliveryMethod no_fulltext_linktorsrc
Discipline Medicine
EISSN 1528-1159
ExternalDocumentID 28984733
Genre Journal Article
GrantInformation_xml – fundername: NIAMS NIH HHS
  grantid: R01 AR063705
– fundername: NIAMS NIH HHS
  grantid: R56 AR063705
– fundername: NIAMS NIH HHS
  grantid: P30 AR066262
GroupedDBID ---
.-D
.XZ
.Z2
01R
0R~
123
1J1
354
40H
4Q1
4Q2
4Q3
53G
5RE
5VS
6PF
71W
77Y
7O~
A9M
AAAAV
AAAXR
AAGIX
AAHPQ
AAIQE
AAJCS
AAMOA
AAMTA
AAQKA
AAQQT
AARTV
AASCR
AASOK
AAUEB
AAWTL
AAXQO
ABASU
ABBUW
ABDIG
ABJNI
ABOCM
ABVCZ
ABXVJ
ABXYN
ABZAD
ABZZY
ACCJW
ACDDN
ACDOF
ACEWG
ACGFO
ACGFS
ACIJW
ACILI
ACLDA
ACWDW
ACWRI
ACXJB
ACXNZ
ACZKN
ADGGA
ADHPY
AE3
AE6
AEBDS
AEETU
AENEX
AFBFQ
AFDTB
AFEXH
AFMBP
AFNMH
AFSOK
AFUWQ
AGINI
AHOMT
AHQNM
AHQVU
AHVBC
AIJEX
AINUH
AJCLO
AJIOK
AJNWD
AJZMW
AKCTQ
AKULP
ALKUP
ALMA_UNASSIGNED_HOLDINGS
ALMTX
AMJPA
AMKUR
AMNEI
AOHHW
AOQMC
BOYCO
BQLVK
BYPQX
C45
CGR
CS3
CUY
CVF
DIWNM
DU5
E.X
EBS
ECM
EEVPB
EIF
EJD
ERAAH
EX3
F2K
F2L
F2M
F2N
F5P
FCALG
FL-
GNXGY
GQDEL
H0~
HLJTE
HZ~
IKREB
IKYAY
IN~
IPNFZ
JF9
JG8
JK3
JK8
K8S
KD2
KMI
L-C
L7B
N9A
NPM
N~7
N~B
O9-
OAG
OAH
ODMTH
OHH
OHYEH
OL1
OLG
OLH
OLU
OLV
OLY
OLZ
OPUJH
OVD
OVDNE
OVIDH
OVLEI
OVOZU
OWBYB
OWU
OWV
OWW
OWX
OWY
OWZ
OXXIT
P2P
R2J
RIG
RLZ
S4R
S4S
SJN
TEORI
TSPGW
V2I
VVN
W3M
WH7
WOQ
WOW
X3V
X3W
XXN
XYM
YCJ
YFH
YOC
ZB8
ZFV
ZY1
7X8
ABPXF
ACBKD
ADKSD
ADSXY
ID FETCH-LOGICAL-c4073-a049c373009fc40e353719c019b95ca9edd06cef0cbda3ee3c00283b31575c852
IEDL.DBID 7X8
ISICitedReferencesCount 51
ISICitedReferencesURI http://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=Summon&SrcAuth=ProQuest&DestLinkType=CitingArticles&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=00007632-201805150-00013&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcvtisr.summon.serialssolutions.com%2F%23%21%2Fsearch%3Fho%3Df%26include.ft.matches%3Dt%26l%3Dnull%26q%3D
ISSN 1528-1159
IngestDate Sun Nov 09 14:14:59 EST 2025
Thu Apr 03 07:07:47 EDT 2025
IsDoiOpenAccess false
IsOpenAccess true
IsPeerReviewed true
IsScholarly true
Issue 10
Language English
LinkModel DirectLink
MergedId FETCHMERGED-LOGICAL-c4073-a049c373009fc40e353719c019b95ca9edd06cef0cbda3ee3c00283b31575c852
Notes ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
PMID 28984733
PQID 1948754061
PQPubID 23479
ParticipantIDs proquest_miscellaneous_1948754061
pubmed_primary_28984733
PublicationCentury 2000
PublicationDate 2018-05-15
20180515
PublicationDateYYYYMMDD 2018-05-15
PublicationDate_xml – month: 05
  year: 2018
  text: 2018-05-15
  day: 15
PublicationDecade 2010
PublicationPlace United States
PublicationPlace_xml – name: United States
PublicationTitle Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976)
PublicationTitleAlternate Spine (Phila Pa 1976)
PublicationYear 2018
SSID ssj0006319
Score 2.487772
Snippet A magnetic resonance imaging study of human cadaver spines. To investigate associations between cartilage endplate (CEP) thickness and disc degeneration....
A magnetic resonance imaging study of human cadaver spines.STUDY DESIGNA magnetic resonance imaging study of human cadaver spines.To investigate associations...
SourceID proquest
pubmed
SourceType Aggregation Database
Index Database
StartPage E592
SubjectTerms Cartilage - diagnostic imaging
Cartilage - pathology
Echo-Planar Imaging - methods
Female
Humans
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration - diagnostic imaging
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration - pathology
Lumbar Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging
Lumbar Vertebrae - pathology
Male
Middle Aged
Title Cartilage Endplate Thickness Variation Measured by Ultrashort Echo-Time MRI Is Associated With Adjacent Disc Degeneration
URI https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28984733
https://www.proquest.com/docview/1948754061
Volume 43
WOSCitedRecordID wos00007632-201805150-00013&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcvtisr.summon.serialssolutions.com%2F%23%21%2Fsearch%3Fho%3Df%26include.ft.matches%3Dt%26l%3Dnull%26q%3D
hasFullText
inHoldings 1
isFullTextHit
isPrint
link http://cvtisr.summon.serialssolutions.com/2.0.0/link/0/eLvHCXMwpV1LT8JAEN6oGOPF9wNfWROvGylLaXsyyCNyKCEIyo3sYyooKUjRhH_v7LYNJxMTe-ihaZtm5-vM9-3szhByp0vSNTqZYSyqsgpEmgkJwBBNTlQB4ZYiaZtNeJ2OPxwG3WzCLcmWVeY-0TpqPVNmjvwexTZSaxN-HuafzHSNMtnVrIXGJilwpDIG1d5wXS28ym1jDwxRqJQwbudb5wLv_rH3nJYuzI5yxTQg-Y1k2mDT2v_vZx6QvYxm0lqKi0OyAfER2QmzRPoxWdUNZKboTGgz1vMpMk7aH0_Uh_F89AUFtLUYDdMpRE3lig6my4VIxsjXaROdJjO7R2jYa9N2QnMr452vk-WY1vS7MOs-aWOSKNqAN1vd2rzyhAxazX79iWVdGJhCsceZQA2huClrH0R4BbjLPSdQSA1l4CoRgNalqoKopKQWHIAr2_9IcgeZoPLd8inZimcxnBPqOh73dEWAQhbGlR8AkgmIHI04cqSURXKbD-oIUW5SFyKG2VcyWg9rkZyllhnN03IcI5SMGGI5v_jD05dkFxmPb9L_jntFChH-43BNttX3cpIsbix88Nzphj9gj884
linkProvider ProQuest
openUrl ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fsummon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Cartilage+Endplate+Thickness+Variation+Measured+by+Ultrashort+Echo-Time+MRI+Is+Associated+With+Adjacent+Disc+Degeneration&rft.jtitle=Spine+%28Philadelphia%2C+Pa.+1976%29&rft.au=Berg-Johansen%2C+Britta&rft.au=Han%2C+Misung&rft.au=Fields%2C+Aaron+J&rft.au=Liebenberg%2C+Ellen+C&rft.date=2018-05-15&rft.eissn=1528-1159&rft.volume=43&rft.issue=10&rft.spage=E592&rft_id=info:doi/10.1097%2FBRS.0000000000002432&rft_id=info%3Apmid%2F28984733&rft_id=info%3Apmid%2F28984733&rft.externalDocID=28984733
thumbnail_l http://covers-cdn.summon.serialssolutions.com/index.aspx?isbn=/lc.gif&issn=1528-1159&client=summon
thumbnail_m http://covers-cdn.summon.serialssolutions.com/index.aspx?isbn=/mc.gif&issn=1528-1159&client=summon
thumbnail_s http://covers-cdn.summon.serialssolutions.com/index.aspx?isbn=/sc.gif&issn=1528-1159&client=summon