Abstract #5044

MR Evaluation of Disco-Vertebral Junction: Effects of Sequence and Parameters on SNR and CNR

Palanan Siriwananrangsun^1,2, Tim Finkenstädt^1,3, Tailynn S Chen⁴, Michael Carl⁵, Reni Biswas^1,6, Colin Bae⁴, Sheronda Statum^1,6, Graeme M Bydder¹, Christine B Chung^1,6, and Won C Bae^1,6

¹Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States, ²Department of Radiology, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, ³Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, ⁴Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego, CA, United States, ⁵General Electric Healthcare, La Jolla, CA, United States, ⁶Department of Radiology, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States

The disco-vertebral junction of lumbar spine contains thin structures with short T2 values, including cartilaginous endplate (CEP) sandwiched between the bony vertebral endplate (VEP) and nucleus pulposus (NP). We have demonstrated that ultrashort echo time MRI is able to capture signal from cartilaginous endplate, and we sought to further refine the technique by characterizing contrast-to-noise ratio of these tissues when varying echo times are used. Optimal contrast between CEP and VEP was achieved with UTE source image at the shortest TE, while a balanced contrast between all tissues was achieved by Cones Subtraction imaging at a long 2nd TE.

This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only; a login is required.

Join Here