Hiring in life sciences? Share your open positions with our professional community. Read more Close

Advertisement

Quantification of intervertebral disc degeneration using dual-energy computed tomography collagen maps: a comparative study with MRI Pfirrmann grading.

Created on 04 Sep 2026

Authors

Lara Farkic, Carsten Stelbrink, Friedemann Goehler, Kerstin Rubarth, Yan Klosterkemper, Friederike Schömig, Matthias Pumberger, Denis Poddubnyy, Dominik Deppe, Robert Biesen, Mikhail Protopopov, Torsten Diekhoff, Julian Pohlan

Published in

Scientific reports. Volume 16. Issue 1. Sep 03, 2026. Epub Sep 03, 2026.

Abstract

To determine the correlation between quantitative HU values derived from DECT collagen maps and the MRI-based Pfirrmann grade. We retrospectively reviewed IVDs in patients who underwent both spinal DECT and MRI within one year. CT scans were acquired using single-source DECT at 80 and 135-kVp with automatic exposure control. Three readers scored IVDs according to Pfirrmann et al. on T2-weighted MRI images. Quantitative evaluation involved placing three standardized regions of interest in each IVD in DECT-based cMaps; in corresponding 135-kVp DECT scans and MRI images. Mean density measurements of AF and NP were compared with PF-grades using linear mixed model analysis. We included 339 IVDs of 97 patients [mean age 59.1 years]; (53 women [mean age 63.5 years] and 44 men [mean age 53.8 years]). cMap analysis revealed a significant difference of AF and NP collagen and chondroitin density between PF-grade I and V(AF: MD = - 31.1HU (95% CI - 59.5 to - 2.7), p = 0.032;NP:MD = - 37.8HU (95% CI - 73.6 to - 2.0), p = 0.038). 135-kVp DECT showed no IVD density reduction corresponding to PF-grades. MRI showed significant reduction of signal intensities in AF and NP with increasing PF-grades. IVD collagen and chondroitin density declined with increasing PF-grade in DECT-based cMaps, suggesting DECT-based cMaps as an additional tool for IVD classification.

PMID:
42693219
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 04 Sep 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Advertisement

Stats

  • Community rating n/a 0 votes
  • Reviewers' rating n/a 0 votes
  • Your rating

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

  • Recommendations n/a n/a positive of 0 vote(s)
  • Views 6
  • Comments 0

Recommended by

  • No recommendations yet.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.

Advertisement