Imaging of the degenerative spine using a sagittal T2-weighted DIXON turbo spin-echo sequence

Detrimental Effects of Space Flight on the Lumbar Spine May Be Correlated to Baseline Degeneration: Insights From an Advanced MR Imaging Study

Introduction

Pain in lower back is a common condition reported by astronauts, both during and after space missions. Investigating the alterations in the spine and the mechanisms driving these changes is essential for a deeper understanding of how microgravity impacts the human spine. This knowledge could also open pathways for therapeutic or preventive interventions. Nevertheless, there is a limited evidence regarding changes in intervertebral discs (IVDs) due to space travel.

Materials and Methods

In this study, 2 astronauts were enrolled in a space travel. Before the space flight, a lower back magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was performed. We repeated an MRI instantly after 17-days space travel, and again 3 months after landing. The water content and glycosaminoglycan (GAGs) levels in the lumbar IVDs were evaluated using DIXON water-only phase imaging and T1rho MRI sequences. Additionally, alterations in the size and quality of the paraspinal muscles (PSMs), including fatty infiltration, were examined.

Results

Varied alterations were observed in the IVDs and PSMs of both astronauts. One astronaut experienced a reduction in water and GAGs content, while the other showed an increase. These changes in the IVDs following spaceflight appeared to be linked to the degree of baseline degeneration. Regarding the PSMs, differences in size and fatty infiltration also varied between the two astronauts. Notably, these changes had not stabilized by the final follow-up at 3 months.

Conclusion

Our findings offer initial evidence indicating that even brief exposures to microgravity might be linked to biochemical alterations in IVDs and changes in the quality of PSMs, which could continue evolving for more than 3 months after returning from space.

Dixon T2 imaging of vertebral bone edema: reliability and comparison with short tau inversion recovery

BACKGROUND

It is uncertain whether T2-weighted Dixon water images (DixonT2w) and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) are interchangeable when evaluating vertebral bone edema, or if one method is superior or visualizes the edema differently.

PURPOSE

To compare image quality and Modic change (MC)-related edema between DixonT2w and STIR and estimate inter-observer reliability for MC edema on DixonT2w.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Consecutive patients (n = 120) considered for the Antibiotics in Modic changes (AIM) trial underwent lumbar 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging with two-point DixonT2w and STIR. Two radiologists assessed MC-related high-signal lesions on DixonT2w and compared image quality and lesion extent with STIR. Cohen's kappa and mean of differences ± limits of agreement were calculated.

RESULTS

Fat suppression and artefacts were similar on DixonT2w and STIR in 116 of 120 (97%) patients. Lesion conspicuity was similar in 88, better on STIR in 10, and better on DixonT2w in 9 of 107 patients with MC-related high-signal lesions. Contrast-to-noise ratio for STIR versus DixonT2w was 19.1 versus 17.1 (mean of differences 2.0 ± 8.2). Of 228 lesions L4-S1, 215 (94%) had similar extent on DixonT2w and STIR, 11 were smaller/undetected on STIR, and two were smaller/undetected on DixonT2w. Lesions missed on STIR (n = 9) or DixonT2w (n = 1) had a weak signal increase on the other sequence (≤17%; 0% = vertebral body, 100% = cerebrospinal fluid). Inter-observer reliability (mean kappa L4-S1) was very good for presence (0.87), moderate for height (0.44), and good for volume (0.63) of lesions on DixonT2w.

CONCLUSION

DixonT2w provided similar visualization of MC-related vertebral edema as STIR.

Diagnostic Value of an Additional Sequence (Large-Field Coronal Stir) in a Routine Lumbar Spine MR Imaging Protocol to Investigate Lumbar Radiculopathy

OBJECTIVE

Lumbar radiculopathy mainly originates in the spine (lumbar disc herniation or spine osteoarthritis) but can sometimes be explained by extra-spinal nerve compression or confused with referred pain mimicking radiculopathy. Our main objective was to demonstrate the clinical benefit of the large-field coronal STIR (coroSTIR) sequence in the etiological assessment of lumbar radiculopathy with a duration of more than six weeks.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Six hundred consecutive lumbar MRI scans performed using the same protocol were retrospectively reviewed. Two musculoskeletal radiologists independently assessed the coroSTIR sequence for the presence of extra-spinal anomalies (ESA) that could explain or contribute to the lumbar radiculopathy. The presence of an ESA was then correlated with sex, age, topography and lateralization of radiculopathy, history of vertebral surgery, as well as the presence of a spinal cause explaining the symptoms. Extra-spinal incidentalomas (ESI) with potential clinical impact visible only on the coroSTIR sequence were also systematically reported.

RESULTS

An extra-spinal cause was detected on the coroSTIR sequence in 68 cases (11.3%), mainly gluteal tendinobursitis (30.9%), congestive hip osteoarthritis (25%), degenerative sacroiliac arthropathy (14.7%), or inflammatory sacroilitis (7.3%). Their prevalence was significantly correlated in multivariate regression with age (58 years vs. 53 years, p = 0.01), but not with the type of radiating pain (sciatica or cruralgia). The presence of ESI was also frequent (70 cases, 11.7%), including some potentially severe diagnoses (38% of tumor or pseudo-tumor mass requiring further assessment or monitoring).

CONCLUSIONS

Considering its acceptable acquisition time, the detection of a significant number of potentially symptom-related extra-spinal anomalies, and the discovery of a non-negligible number of extra-spinal incidentalomas with potential clinical impact, the coronal STIR should be performed systematically in routine MRI for lumbar radiculopathy.

Whole-body MRI in children and adolescents: Can T2-weighted Dixon fat-only images replace standard T1-weighted images in the assessment of bone marrow?

OBJECTIVE

When performing whole-body MRI for bone marrow assessment in children, optimizing scan time is crucial. The aim was to compare T2 Dixon fat-only and TSE T1-weighted sequences in the assessment of bone marrow high signal areas seen on T2 Dixon water-only in healthy children and adolescents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Whole-body MRIs from 196 healthy children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years (mean 12.0) were obtained including T2 TSE Dixon and T1 TSE-weighted images. Areas with increased signal on T2 Dixon water-only images were scored using a novel, validated scoring system and classified into "minor" or "major" findings according to size and intensity, where "major" referred to changes easily being misdiagnosed as pathology in a clinical setting. Areas were assessed for low signal on T2 Dixon fat-only images and, after at least three weeks to avoid recall bias, on the T1-weighted sequence by two experienced pediatric radiologists.

RESULTS

1250 high signal areas were evaluated on T2 Dixon water-only images. In 1159/1250 (92.7%) low signal was seen on both T2 Dixon fat-only and T1-weighted sequences while in 24 (1.9%) it was not present on either sequence, with an absolute agreement of 94.6%. Discordant findings were found in 67 areas, of which in 18 (1.5%) low signal was visible on T1-weighted images alone and in 49 (3.9%) on T2 Dixon fat-only alone. The overall kappa value between the two sequences was 0.39. The agreement was higher for major as compared to minor findings (kappa values of 0.69 and 0.29, respectively) and higher for the older age groups.

CONCLUSION

T2 Dixon fat-only can replace T1-weighted sequence on whole-body MRI for bone marrow assessment in children over the age of nine, thus reducing scan time.

Synthetic T2-weighted fat sat based on a generative adversarial network shows potential for scan time reduction in spine imaging in a multicenter test dataset

OBJECTIVES

T2-weighted (w) fat sat (fs) sequences, which are important in spine MRI, require a significant amount of scan time. Generative adversarial networks (GANs) can generate synthetic T2-w fs images. We evaluated the potential of synthetic T2-w fs images by comparing them to their true counterpart regarding image and fat saturation quality, and diagnostic agreement in a heterogenous, multicenter dataset.

METHODS

A GAN was used to synthesize T2-w fs from T1- and non-fs T2-w. The training dataset comprised scans of 73 patients from two scanners, and the test dataset, scans of 101 patients from 38 multicenter scanners. Apparent signal- and contrast-to-noise ratios (aSNR/aCNR) were measured in true and synthetic T2-w fs. Two neuroradiologists graded image (5-point scale) and fat saturation quality (3-point scale). To evaluate whether the T2-w fs images are indistinguishable, a Turing test was performed by eleven neuroradiologists. Six pathologies were graded on the synthetic protocol (with synthetic T2-w fs) and the original protocol (with true T2-w fs) by the two neuroradiologists.

RESULTS

aSNR and aCNR were not significantly different between the synthetic and true T2-w fs images. Subjective image quality was graded higher for synthetic T2-w fs (p = 0.023). In the Turing test, synthetic and true T2-w fs could not be distinguished from each other. The intermethod agreement between synthetic and original protocol ranged from substantial to almost perfect agreement for the evaluated pathologies.

DISCUSSION

The synthetic T2-w fs might replace a physical T2-w fs. Our approach validated on a challenging, multicenter dataset is highly generalizable and allows for shorter scan protocols.

KEY POINTS

• Generative adversarial networks can be used to generate synthetic T2-weighted fat sat images from T1- and non-fat sat T2-weighted images of the spine. • The synthetic T2-weighted fat sat images might replace a physically acquired T2-weighted fat sat showing a better image quality and excellent diagnostic agreement with the true T2-weighted fat images. • The present approach validated on a challenging, multicenter dataset is highly generalizable and allows for significantly shorter scan protocols.

Implementation of GAN-Based, Synthetic T2-Weighted Fat Saturated Images in the Routine Radiological Workflow Improves Spinal Pathology Detection

(1) Background and Purpose: In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine, T2-weighted (T2-w) fat-saturated (fs) images improve the diagnostic assessment of pathologies. However, in the daily clinical setting, additional T2-w fs images are frequently missing due to time constraints or motion artifacts. Generative adversarial networks (GANs) can generate synthetic T2-w fs images in a clinically feasible time. Therefore, by simulating the radiological workflow with a heterogenous dataset, this study's purpose was to evaluate the diagnostic value of additional synthetic, GAN-based T2-w fs images in the clinical routine. (2) Methods: 174 patients with MRI of the spine were retrospectively identified. A GAN was trained to synthesize T2-w fs images from T1-w, and non-fs T2-w images of 73 patients scanned in our institution. Subsequently, the GAN was used to create synthetic T2-w fs images for the previously unseen 101 patients from multiple institutions. In this test dataset, the additional diagnostic value of synthetic T2-w fs images was assessed in six pathologies by two neuroradiologists. Pathologies were first graded on T1-w and non-fs T2-w images only, then synthetic T2-w fs images were added, and pathologies were graded again. Evaluation of the additional diagnostic value of the synthetic protocol was performed by calculation of Cohen's ĸ and accuracy in comparison to a ground truth (GT) grading based on real T2-w fs images, pre- or follow-up scans, other imaging modalities, and clinical information. (3) Results: The addition of the synthetic T2-w fs to the imaging protocol led to a more precise grading of abnormalities than when grading was based on T1-w and non-fs T2-w images only (mean ĸ GT versus synthetic protocol = 0.65; mean ĸ GT versus T1/T2 = 0.56; p = 0.043). (4) Conclusions: The implementation of synthetic T2-w fs images in the radiological workflow significantly improves the overall assessment of spine pathologies. Thereby, high-quality, synthetic T2-w fs images can be virtually generated by a GAN from heterogeneous, multicenter T1-w and non-fs T2-w contrasts in a clinically feasible time, which underlines the reproducibility and generalizability of our approach.

Degenerative Lumbar Spine Disease: Imaging and Biomechanics

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the most common diagnoses encountered when considering years lived with disability. The degenerative changes of the lumbar spine include a wide spectrum of morphological modifications visible on imaging, some of them often asymptomatic or not consistent with symptoms. Phenotyping by considering both clinical and imaging biomarkers can improve the management of CLBP. Depending on the clinical presentation, imaging helps determine the most likely anatomical nociceptive source, thereby enhancing the therapeutic approach by targeting a specific lesion. Three pathologic conditions with an approach based on our experience can be described: (1) pure painful syndromes related to single nociceptive sources (e.g., disk pain, active disk pain, and facet joint osteoarthritis pain), (2) multifactorial painful syndromes, representing a combination of several nociceptive sources (such as lumbar spinal stenosis pain, foraminal stenosis pain, and instability pain), and (3) nonspecific CLBP, often explained by postural (muscular) syndromes.

Can T2-weighted Dixon fat-only images replace T1-weighted images in degenerative disc disease with Modic changes on lumbar spine MRI?

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol that only includes sagittal T2-weighted Dixon fat and water images as an alternative to a standard protocol that includes both sagittal T1-weighted sequence and T2-weighted Dixon water images as reference standard in lumbar degenerative disc disease with Modic changes.

METHODS

From February 2017 to March 2019, 114 patients who underwent lumbar spine MRI for low back pain were included in this retrospective study. All MRI showed Modic changes at least at one vertebral level. Two radiologists read the standard protocol and 1 month later the alternative protocol. All MRI were assessed for Modic changes (types, location, extension) as well as structural changes (endplate defects, facet arthropathy, spinal stenosis, foraminal stenosis, Schmorl nodes, spondylolisthesis, disc bulges, and degeneration). Interobserver agreement was assessed, as well as diagnostic performance using the standard protocol as reference standard.

RESULTS

Interobserver agreement was moderate to excellent (kappa ranging from 0.51 to 0.92). Diagnostic performance of the alternative protocol was good for detection of any Modic change (sensitivity = 100.00% [95% CI, 99.03-100.00]; specificity = 98.89% [95% CI, 98.02-99.44]), as well as for detection of each Modic subtype and structural variables (sensitivity respectively 100% and ranging from 88.43 to 99.75% ; specificity ranging respectively from 97.62 to 100% and 99.58 to 99.91% ).

CONCLUSIONS

Combined with T2-weighted Dixon water images, T2-weighted Dixon fat images provide good diagnostic performance compared to T1-weighted images in lumbar degenerative disc disease with Modic changes, and could therefore allow for a shortened protocol.

KEY POINTS

• Combined with T2-weighted Dixon water images, T2-weighted Dixon fat images (in comparison to T1-weighted sequence) can provide good diagnostic performance in lumbar degenerative disc disease with Modic changes. • Interobserver agreement of the alternative protocol including sagittal T2-weighted Dixon fat and water images was substantial to excellent for every studied variable except for facet arthropathy. • A shortened MRI protocol including T2-weighted Dixon sequence without T1-weighted sequence could be proposed in this clinical setting.

Implementation of a sagittal T2-weighted DIXON turbo spin-echo sequence may shorten MRI acquisitions in the emergency setting of suspected spinal bleeding

Background

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the modality of choice for evaluating soft tissue damage along the spine in the emergency setting, yet access and fast protocol availability are limited. We assessed the performance of a sagittal T2-weighted DIXON turbo spin-echo sequence and investigated whether additional standard sagittal T1-weighted sequences are necessary in suspected spinal fluid collections/bleedings.

Methods

Seventy-four patients aged 62.9 ± 19.3 years (mean ± standard deviation) with MRI including a sagittal T2-weighted DIXON sequence and a T1-weighted sequence were retrospectively included. Thirty-four patients (45.9%) showed a spinal fluid collection/bleeding. Two layouts (layout 1: fat-only and water-only and in-phase images of the DIXON sequence and T1-weighted images; layout 2: fat-only and water-only and in-phase images of the DIXON sequence) were evaluated by three readers (R1, R2, and R3) concerning presence of spinal fluid collections/bleedings and diagnostic confidence from 1 (very low confidence) to 5 (very high confidence). χ² and κ statistics were used.

Results

There was no difference in detecting spinal fluid collections/bleedings between the layouts (R1 and R2 detected all, R3 missed one spinal fluid collection/bleeding in the same patient in both layouts). Confidence was high (layout 1, R1 4.26 ± 0.81, R2 4.28 ± 0.81, R3 4.32 ± 0.79; layout 2, R1 3.93 ± 0.70, R2 4.09 ± 0.86, R3 3.97 ± 0.73), with higher inter-reader agreement for layout 1 (κ 0.691–0.780) than for layout 2 (κ 0.441–0.674).

Conclusions

A sagittal T2-weighted DIXON sequence provides diagnostic performance similar to a protocol including standard T1-weighted sequences.

Occult Disco-Ligamentous Lesions of the Subaxial c-Spine-A Comparison of Preoperative Imaging Findings and Intraoperative Site Inspection

Despite the general acceptance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the gold standard for diagnostics of traumatic disco-ligamentous injuries in the subaxial cervical spine, clinical experience shows cases where no lesion is detected in MRI exams but obtained during surgery. The aim of this study was to compare intraoperative site inspection to preoperative imaging findings and to identify radiological features of patients having a risk for under- or over-estimating disco-ligamentous lesions. We performed a retrospective analysis of our clinical database, considering all patients who underwent surgical treatment of the cervical spine via an anterior approach after trauma between June 2008 and April 2018. Only patients with availability of immediate preoperative computed tomography (CT), 3-Tesla MRI scans, and information about intraoperative findings were considered. Results of preoperative imaging were set in context to intraoperative findings, and receiver operator characteristics (ROC) were calculated. Out of 144 patients receiving anterior cervical surgery after trauma, 83 patients (mean age: 59.4 ± 20.5 years, age range: 12–94 years, 63.9% males) were included in this study. Included patients underwent surgical treatment via anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF; 79 patients) or anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (4 patients) with ventral plating. Comparing preoperative imaging findings to intraoperative site inspection, a discrepancy between imaging and surgical findings was revealed in 14 patients, leading to an overall specificity/sensitivity of preoperative imaging to identify disco-ligamentous lesions of the cervical spine of 100%/77.4%. Yet, adding the existence of prevertebral hematoma and/or vertebral fractures according to preoperative imaging improved the sensitivity to 95.2%. Lack of sensitivity was most likely related to severe cervical spondylosis, rendering correct radiological reporting difficult. Thus, the risk of missing a traumatic disco-ligamentous injury of the cervical spine in imaging seems to be a particular threat in patients with preexisting degenerative cervical spondylosis. In conclusion, incorporating the existence of prevertebral hematoma and/or vertebral fractures can significantly improve diagnostic yield.

Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted Dixon water- and fat-only images to assess osteitis and erosions according to RAMRIS in hands of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

PURPOSE

To assess the agreement between readers using contrast-enhanced T1-weighted Dixon water- and fat-only images and OMERACT-recommended sequences for the scoring of osteitis and erosions according to the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) MRI scoring system (RAMRIS) in hands of patients with early RA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Both hands of 24 patients (16 women, 8 men; mean age, 45.7±14.5 [SD] years; age range: 25-70 years) with early RA were prospectively imaged with fat-saturated T2-weighted sequences, non-Dixon T1-weighted imaging prior to contrast material injection and T1-weighted Dixon imaging after contrast material injection at 1.5T. There were Two radiologists separately quantified osteitis and erosions according to RAMRIS using contrast-enhanced T1-weighted Dixon water-only and fat-saturated T2-weighted images for osteitis and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted Dixon fat-only and T1-weighted images prior to contrast material injection for erosions. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to assess inter-technique, intra-observer and inter-observer agreement.

RESULTS

Mean ICC for the agreement between Dixon and non-Dixon images ranged from 0.68 (95%CI: 0.20-0.90) to 0.99 (95%CI: 0.95-1.00) for the scoring of osteitis and from 0.77 (95%CI: 0.38-0.93) to 0.99 (95%CI: 0.95-1.00) for the scoring of erosions. Mean ICC for the agreement between first and second readings ranged from 0.94 (95%CI: 0.81-0.98) to 0.97 (95%CI: 0.91-0.99) for the scoring of osteitis using Dixon and 0.91 (95%CI: 0.72-0.97) to 0.98 (95%CI: 0.92-0.99) using non-Dixon images and from 0.80 (95%CI: 0.45-0.94) to 0.97 (95%CI: 0.91-0.99) for the scoring of erosions using Dixon and 0.72 (95%CI: 0.29-0.91) to 0.98 (95%CI: 0.92-0.99) using non-Dixon images.

CONCLUSION

Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted Dixon water- and fat-only images can serve as an alternative to fat-saturated T2-weighted and T1-weighted MRI sequences for the assessment of osteitis and erosions according to the RAMRIS scoring system in hands of patients with early RA.

Dixon-T2WI magnetic resonance imaging at 3 tesla outperforms conventional imaging for thyroid eye disease

OBJECTIVES

To determine the diagnostic performances of a single Dixon-T2-weighted imaging (WI) sequence compared to a conventional protocol including T1-, T2-, and fat-suppressed T2-weighted MRI at 3 T when assessing thyroid eye disease (TED).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This IRB-approved prospective single-center study enrolled participants presenting with confirmed TED from April 2015 to October 2019. They underwent an MRI, including a conventional protocol and a Dixon-T2WI sequence. Two neuroradiologists, blinded to all data, read both datasets independently and randomly. They assessed the presence of extraocular muscle (EOM) inflammation, enlargement, fatty degeneration, or fibrosis as well as the presence of artifacts. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used.

RESULTS

Two hundred six participants were enrolled (135/206 [66%] women, 71/206 [34%] men, age 52.3 ± 13.2 years). Dixon-T2WI was significantly more likely to detect at least one inflamed EOM as compared to the conventional set (248/412 [60%] versus 228/412 [55%] eyes; (p = 0.02). Dixon-T2WI was more sensitive and specific than the conventional set for assessing muscular inflammation (100% versus 94.7% and 71.2% versus 68.5%, respectively). Dixon-T2WI was significantly less likely to show major or minor artifacts as compared to fat-suppressed T2WI (20/412 [5%] versus 109/412 [27%] eyes, p < 0.001, and 175/412 [42%] versus 257/412 [62%] eyes, p < 0.001). Confidence was significantly higher with Dixon-T2WI than with the conventional set (2.35 versus 2.24, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

Dixon-T2WI showed higher sensitivity and specificity and showed fewer artifacts than a conventional protocol when assessing thyroid eye disease, in addition to higher self-reported confidence.

KEY POINTS

• Dixon-T2WI has better sensitivity and specificity than a conventional protocol for assessing inflamed extraocular muscles in patients with thyroid eye disease. • Dixon-T2WI shows significantly fewer artifacts than fat-suppressed T2WI. • Dixon-T2WI is faster and is associated with significantly higher self-reported reader confidence as compared to a conventional protocol when assessing inflammatory extraocular muscles.