Abstract #0420

Improving Predictability of Painful Discs by using T1ρ MRI & Disc Height

Rachelle Berger¹, Matthew Fenty², Bryan Fry¹, Philip M. Maurer³, Dawn M. Elliott⁴, Ari Borthakur²

¹Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; ²CMROI, Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; ³3B Orthopaedics, Philadelphia, PA, USA; ⁴McKay Orthopaedic Lab, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

The hypothesis was tested that T1ρ relaxation time combined with the disc height in patients with disc degenerative disease (DDD) can detect painful discs non-invasively. Mean values for both biomarkers individually exhibited significant differences between non-painful and painful discs. The combination of biomarkers improved the predictive value to 95% (area under the curve from a ROC analysis). The long-term objective of this study is to evaluate quantitative and non-invasive biomarkers of disc degeneration in patients with lower back pain.