Korean J Radiol.  2016 Dec;17(6):903-911. 10.3348/kjr.2016.17.6.903.

Interobserver and Test-Retest Reproducibility of T1ρ and T2 Measurements of Lumbar Intervertebral Discs by 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• Yoo YH
• Yoon CS
• Eun NL
• Hwang MJ
• Yoo H
• Peters RD
• Chung TS
• Lee YH
• Suh JS
• Kim S

• KMID: 2466287
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2016.17.6.903

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the interobserver and test-retest reproducibility of T1ρ and T2 measurements of lumbar intervertebral discs using 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study included a total of 51 volunteers (female, 26; male, 25; mean age, 54 ± 16.3 years) who underwent lumbar spine MRI with a 3.0 T scanner. Amongst these subjects, 40 underwent repeat T1ρ and T2 measurement acquisitions with identical image protocol. Two observers independently performed the region of interest measurements in the nuclei pulposi of the discs from L1-2 through L5-S1 levels. Statistical analysis was performed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with a two-way random model of absolute agreement. Comparison of the ICC values was done after acquisition of ICC values using Z test. Statistical significance was defined as p value < 0.05.
RESULTS
The ICCs of interobserver reproducibility were 0.951 and 0.672 for T1ρ and T2 mapping, respectively. The ICCs of test-retest reproducibility (40 subjects) for T1ρ and T2 measurements were 0.922 and 0.617 for observer A and 0.914 and 0.628 for observer B, respectively. In the comparison of the aforementioned ICCs, ICCs of interobserver and test-retest reproducibility for T1ρ mapping were significantly higher than T2 mapping (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
The interobserver and test-retest reproducibility of T1ρ mapping were significantly higher than those of T2 mapping for the quantitative assessment of nuclei pulposi of lumbar intervertebral discs.

Keyword

T1 rho; Intervertebral disc; Reproducibility; Magnetic resonance imaging; T2 mapping; Disc degeneration

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Female
Humans
Intervertebral Disc/diagnostic imaging
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/*diagnosis/diagnostic imaging/pathology
Lumbar Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging
*Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Nucleus Pulposus/diagnostic imaging
Prospective Studies
Reproducibility of Results
Severity of Illness Index

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Representative image of region of interest (ROI) placement in T1ρ and T2 maps. Eexample of region of placement (ROI) in T1ρ (B) and T2 (C) mapping images of 33-year-old female subject with low back pain. On basis of sagittal T2-weighted MR image (A), rectangular ROI was placed at nucleus pulposus of intervertebral disc in T1ρ mapping image (B). Once ROI placement in T1ρ mapping images was done for nucleus pulposus of intervertebral disc, simultaneous ROI placement at corresponding disc portion in T2 mapping images was automatically obtained. Area of ROI was 30 mm2. A. T2-weighted 2D-FSE (two-dimensional fast spin-echo) images acquired in sagittal plane. B. T1ρ mapping image acquired in sagittal plane (L1–2, L2–3, L3–4, L4–5, L5–S1). C. T2 mapping image acquired in sagittal plane (L1–2, L2–3, L3–4, L4–5, L5–S1).

• 

  Fig. 2 Bar graphs of T1ρ and T2 measurements of each observer according to severity of intervertebral disc degeneration graded according to Pfirrmann grading system. Bar graphs of mean values of T1ρ and T2 measurements of nuclei pulposi graded according to Pfirmann grading system, measured by observers (A, B). Grade 5 (n = 84) discs were excluded. Mean measurements of two mapping sequence are depicted in different colors. Graphs indicate significantly lower T1ρ and T2 value in degenerative discs group as compared to those in non-degenerated disc group (p < 0.05).

• 

  Fig. 3 Bar graphs of T1ρ and T2 measurements according to severity of intervertebral disc degeneration graded according to Pfirrmann grading system. There was inverse correlation between mean values of T1ρ and T2 measurements of discs graded according to Pfirrmann grading system, measured by observers (A, B).

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