Does normalized signal intensity of cervical discs on T2 weighted MRI images change in whiplash patients?

Ulbrich, Erika; Añon, Javier; Hodler, Juerg; Zimmermann, Heinz; Sturzenegger, Matthias; Anderson, Suzanne E.; Boesch, Chris (2014). Does normalized signal intensity of cervical discs on T2 weighted MRI images change in whiplash patients? Injury - international journal of the care of the injured, 45(4), pp. 784-791. Elsevier 10.1016/j.injury.2013.11.009

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PURPOSE

We tested the hypothesis that whiplash trauma leads to changes of the signal intensity of cervical discs in T2-weighted images.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

50 whiplash patients (18-65 years) were examined within 48h after motor vehicle accident, and again after 3 and 6 months and compared to 50 age- and sex-matched controls. Signal intensity in ROI's of the discs at the levels C2/3 to C7/T1 and the adjacent vertebral bodies were measured on sagittal T2 weighted MR images and normalized using the average of ROI's in fat tissue. The contrast between discs and both adjacent vertebrae was calculated and disc degeneration was graded by the Pfirrmann-grading system.

RESULTS

Whiplash trauma did not have a significant effect on the normalized signals from discs and vertebrae, on the contrast between discs and adjacent vertebrae, or on the Pfirrmann grading. However, the contrast between discs and adjacent vertebrae and the Pfirrmann grading showed a strong correlation. In healthy volunteers, the contrast between discs and adjacent vertebrae and Pfirrmann grading increased with age and was dependent on the disc level.

CONCLUSION

We could not find any trauma related changes of cervical disc signal intensities. Normalized signals of discs and Pfirrmann grading changed with age and varied between disc levels with the used MR sequence.

Item Type:

 Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

 04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine (DRNN) > Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Paediatric Radiology > DCR Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Methodology (AMSM)
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine (DRNN) > Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Paediatric Radiology
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > Forschungsbereich Pavillon 52 > Abt. Magnetresonanz-Spektroskopie und Methodologie, AMSM
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Neurology
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Anaesthesiology (DINA) > University Emergency Center
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine (DRNN) > Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology

UniBE Contributor:

 Ulbrich, Erika, Añon, Javier, Zimmermann, Heinz (B), Sturzenegger, Matthias, Anderson, Suzanne E., Boesch, Christoph Hans

Subjects:

 600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

 0020-1383

Publisher:

 Elsevier

Language:

 English

Submitter:

 Christoph Hans Boesch

Date Deposited:

 24 Jul 2014 13:38

Last Modified:

 29 Mar 2023 23:33

Publisher DOI:

 10.1016/j.injury.2013.11.009

PubMed ID:

 24326029

Uncontrolled Keywords:

 Cervical spine, Disc degeneration, Disc signal, MRI, Trauma, Whiplash patients

BORIS DOI:

 10.7892/boris.43872

URI:

 https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/43872

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