• Benjamin Dallaudière, Emeline J Ribot, Aurélien J Trotier, Stéphane Loubrie, Laurence Dallet, Olivier Thibaudeau, Sylvain Miraux, and Olivier Hauger.
• Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France. Benjamin.dallaudiere@gmail.com.
• Eur Spine J. 2021 May 1; 30 (5): 1144-1154.

ObjectivesTo assess feasibility of a three-dimensional ultrashort echo time (3D-UTE)-sequence to evaluate normal and pathological disco-vertebral complex (DVC), with assessment of its different portions in a rat model of degenerative disk disease (DDD) with histological correlation. To assess whether this sequence, in comparison with long echo time T2-weighted sequence, is able to monitor DDD with differentiation of early from chronic DVC changes in pathological mechanical conditions.MethodsFive rats were induced with DDD model by percutaneous disk trituration of the tail with an 18-G needle under US-guidance and imaged at 4.7 T. MRI protocol included fat-saturated-T2 (RARE) and 3D-UTE-sequences performed at baseline (day 0. n = 5 animals /10 DVC) and each week (W) from W1 to W10 postoperatively. Visual analysis and signal intensity measurements of SNR and CNR of all DVC portions were performed on RARE and UTE images. Following killing (baseline, n = 1/2 DVC; W2, n = 2/4 DVC; W10, n = 2/4 DVC), histological analysis was performed and compared with MRI.ResultsIn normal DVC, unlike conventional RARE-sequences, 3D-UTE allowed complete identification of DVC zonal anatomy including on visual analysis and CNR measurements. In pathological conditions, SNR and CNR measurements of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus on 3D-UTE distinguished early discitis at W1 from chronic discopathy (P < 0.001 for SNR and P < 0.001 for CNR). Neither the normal complete anatomy of the DVC nor its pathological patterns could be assessed on conventional sequences.ConclusionsUnlike conventional sequences, 3D-UTE enables visualization of the complete normal DVC anatomy and enables monitoring of DDD differentiating between early DVC changes from chronic ones.Level Of Evidence IDiagnostic: individual cross-sectional studies with the consistently applied reference standard and blinding.

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