The purpose of this study is to compare the diagnostic value of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and T2* mapping in assessing lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration. DKI related parameters, such as mean kurtosis (MK), mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), FA of Kurtosis (FAK) and T2* values of nucleus pulposus (NP), anterior annulus fibrosus (AAF) and posterior annulus fibrosus (PAF) were measured and correlated with Pfirrmann grades, disc level, gender and age. It was found that DKI related parameters and T2* values had significantly correlation with Pfirrmann grades, disc leveland, age, but had no significantly correlation with gender. In addition, DKI was more sensitive than T2* mapping in quantitative detection of early lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.
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