Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the Spinal Canal in Quantitative Assessment of Patients with Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis
- Author:
Masaki NORIMOTO
1
;
Yawara EGUCHI
;
Hirohito KANAMOTO
;
Yasuhiro OIKAWA
;
Koji MATSUMOTO
;
Yoshitada MASUDA
;
Takeo FURUYA
;
Sumihisa ORITA
;
Kazuhide INAGE
;
Satoshi MAKI
;
Yasuhiro SHIGA
;
Hideyuki KINOSHITA
;
Koki ABE
;
Masahiro INOUE
;
Tomotaka UMIMURA
;
Takashi SATO
;
Masashi SATO
;
Masahiro SUZUKI
;
Keigo ENOMOTO
;
Seiji OHTORI
Author Information
- Publication Type:Clinical Study
- From:Asian Spine Journal 2021;15(2):207-215
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Methods:Study participants comprised five healthy volunteers (mean age, 27.2 years) and 27 patients with LSS (mean age, 58.4 years) who were individually assessed using 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Intraspinal ADC and FA values of 10 intervertebral discs from healthy volunteers and 52 intervertebral discs from LSS patients were measured. Also, intraspinal canal area, Schizas classification (A: normal, B: mild stenosis, C: severe stenosis) and correlations with symptoms were investigated. Clinical symptoms were checked for the presence of low back pain (LBP), intermittent claudication (IMC), and bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD).
Results:Compared to healthy individuals, LSS patients had significantly lower ADC (p <0.05) and significantly higher FA values (p <0.01). In Schizas classification, stenosis worsened from A to C. ADC values decreased significantly while FA values increased significantly in that order (p <0.05). A positive correlation was found between intraspinal canal area and ADC values (r =0.63,p <0.01) and a negative correlation between intraspinal canal area and FA values (p =−0.61,p <0.01). No correlations were noted between LBP and ADC or FA values. On the other hand, ADC values were significantly lower (p <0.05) and FA values were significantly higher (p <0.05) in patients with IMC or BBD.
Conclusions:Intraspinal DTI parameters such as ADC and FA values were associated with the Schizas classification, intraspinal canal area, and clinical symptoms, suggesting that ADC and FA may be useful for quantitative assessment of LSS.
