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Abstract #2159

Tractography of Human Intervertebral Disc Using High Resolution Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Zhao Wei1, Wenhui Yang1,2, Dina Moazamian3, Saeed Jerban3, Graeme M. Bydder3, Jiang Du3,4,5, Eric Y. Chang3,4, and Yajun Ma3
1Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, 2University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, 3Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States, 4Radiology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States, 5Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States

Synopsis

Keywords: Tractography, Tractography & Fibre Modelling, Spine;Intervertebral disc

Motivation: Evaluation of the fiber microstructure is valuable for assessing IVD degeneration.

Goal(s): To investigate the three-dimensional fiber structure and orientation of the intact IVD.

Approach: A high resolution DTI protocol was used to reconstruct the 3D fiber structure of an IVD specimen at the microstructural level on a 3T MRI scanner.

Results: The concentric lamella structure and interlamellar fibers were observed in the AF. The AF fiber orientations exhibited circumferential variability around the AF ring. The nucleus pulposus fibers exhibited a tri-directional distribution with perpendicular orientations. The major fibers in the cartilaginous endplate were horizontally orientated in the anterior-posterior direction.

Impact: The primary fiber orientations within human IVD tissues, including those of the annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus, and cartilaginous endplate, were observed using high resolution DTT, which may be a promising tool for IVD degeneration and regeneration study.

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