Anat Biol Anthropol.  2024 Sep;37(3):141-150. 10.11637/aba.2024.37.3.141.

Diagnostic Usefulness of Degenerative Disc Disease Using the CT Number and Disc Height

• Park TS
• Yoon S

• KMID: 2562489
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11637/aba.2024.37.3.141

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of each grade of degenerative disc disease (DDD) and to measure the height and computed tomography (CT) numbers of intervertebral discs in affected regions. A total of 412 patients (221 males and 191 females) who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for back pain were included in the study. DDD grades were classified, and disc heights were measured using three images from the lumbosacral region. The CT number, measured in Hounsfield unit (HU), for DDD was obtained using CT scans. The average age of the subjects was 49.47 years. In the disc between the 3 rd and 4 th lumbar vertebrae, no significant difference in degenerative grades was found between genders. However, in the disc between the 4 th and 5 th vertebrae, grade 3 was observed in 21.47% of male subjects, while grade 4 was found in 24.3% of female subjects (p<0.001). Additionally, in the disc between the 5 th lumbar vertebra and the 1 st sacral vertebra, grade 4 was the most common degenerative grade in both males (98 cases, 23.8%) and females (113 cases, 27.4%), with a significant difference between genders (p<0.05). Regarding intervertebral disc height, discs in grade 1 measured 10.71±1.47 mm, those in grade 2 measured 9.95±1.35 mm, in grade 3 measured 9.65±1.62 mm, in grade 4 measured 8.70±1.74 mm, and in grade 5 measured 6.52±1.89 mm. This shows a trend of decreasing disc height as the degeneration grade increased (p<0.001). Furthermore, the CT numbers according to the degenerative grade were 57.34±4.66 HU in grade 1, 67.64±3.97 HU in grade 2, 75.75±3.90 HU in grade 3, 86.51±6.14 HU in grade 4, and 112.48±10.89 HU in grade 5, all showing significant differences (p<0.001). Based on the results of this study, disc height and CT numbers (HU) could be clinically useful indicators for assessing the degree of DDD in Koreans.

Keyword

Degenerative disc disease; Degeneration grade; Magnetic resonance imaging; CT number; HU