Association of lumbar artery narrowing, degenerative changes in disc and endplate and apparent diffusion in disc on postcontrast enhancement of lumbar intervertebral disc

Abstract

Increased enhancement of a degenerated disc is associated mostly with disc space narrowing and with the presence of degenerative endplate changes and endplate defects.

In vivo quantification of lumbar disc degeneration: assessment of ADC value using a degenerative scoring system based on Pfirrmann framework

“…Quantification based on the functional aspects of IVD, such as T1 q - [2], T2-relaxation time [3][4][5], and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) [3,[5][6][7][8][9][10], has been utilized in differentiating normal and degenerated discs as well as in detecting diurnal T2 and ADC changes of healthy IVD [11]. Delayed gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced MRI contrast (dGEMRIC) was utilized as a means to quantify the nutrient supply via diffusion mechanism across the vertebral body (VB) endplate and IVD interface as well as within the IVD [8,[12][13][14]. The results of such studies have been useful in showing that gross morphological changes observed are indeed reflected in quantitative values measured from the IVD when they are compared simply between normal and degenerated discs.…”

Association between VEGF and eNOS gene polymorphisms and lumbar disc degeneration in a young Korean population

“…Clinical studies have shown that the VEGF SNP -2578A and -1154A alleles decrease VEGF expression, but VEGF -634G>C SNP has been correlated with a weak ability for VEGF production (Watson et al, 2000;Awata et al, 2002;Niinimäki et al, 2009). Awata et al (2005) proposed that the VEGF -634C allele is associated with increased transcription levels of VEGF, whereas Lambrechts et al (2005) reported that VEGF -634G is associated with lower VEGF expression.…”

“…Disc cells depend on the blood supply from the capillaries at their margins to supply nutrients and remove metabolic waste. Therefore, blood flow disturbance in the IVD has been proposed to play a role as a causative factor in the IVD degeneration (Nachemson et al, 1970;Buckwalter, 1995;Urban et al, 2004;Awata et al, 2005;Niinimäki et al, 2009;Shi et al, 2011). The lumbar IVD is mostly supplied by the capillaries of lumbar arteries feeding the vertebral endplates, and the blood supply can be disturbed by lumbar arteries narrowing due to atherosclerosis or by occlusion of endplate openings due to morphological changes (Kurunlahti et al, 1999(Kurunlahti et al, , 2001Benneker et al, 2005;Moore, 2006;Niinimäki et al, 2009;Kauppila, 2009;Wang and Griffith, 2011).…”

“…Therefore, blood flow disturbance in the IVD has been proposed to play a role as a causative factor in the IVD degeneration (Nachemson et al, 1970;Buckwalter, 1995;Urban et al, 2004;Awata et al, 2005;Niinimäki et al, 2009;Shi et al, 2011). The lumbar IVD is mostly supplied by the capillaries of lumbar arteries feeding the vertebral endplates, and the blood supply can be disturbed by lumbar arteries narrowing due to atherosclerosis or by occlusion of endplate openings due to morphological changes (Kurunlahti et al, 1999(Kurunlahti et al, , 2001Benneker et al, 2005;Moore, 2006;Niinimäki et al, 2009;Kauppila, 2009;Wang and Griffith, 2011). Thus, atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular risk factors have received growing attention as potential underlying factors for IVD degeneration (Kauppila and Tallroth, 1993;Kurunlahti et al, 1999;Kauppila et al, 2004;Leino-Arjas et al, 2008;Kauppila, 2009).…”

Perspective of Lumbar Segmental Instability for Surgical Evalua tion of Lumbar Disc Herniation

“…Modic changes represent degeneration on endplate and bone marrow, which lead to reduction at nutrient supply of intervertebral disc [13]. This disruption of perfusion and diffusion of intervertebral disc may Satisfactory spinal stability can only be obtained by interrelated support of these three subsystems during posture changes and static or dynamic overloads [2].…”