Researchers examined 16 consecutive patients with endplate abnormalities that were detected by MRI of the lumbar spine and 15 healthy volunteers. Each participant in the study underwent a DWI using whole-body imaging.
Researchers found 29 vertebral abnormalities among 16 patients. Nine vertebral abnormalities occurred because of infections, and 20 of the abnormalities in the patients were because of degenerative changes.
The DWI showed hyperintensity in all of the patients with infection, similar to that used in positron emission teomography. Apparent diffusion coefficient values of infections bone marrow were significantly higher than the patients with normal and degenerative bone marrow.
Read the abstract about DWI for spine patients.
Read other coverage on spine surgery studies:
– Stud Finds Spine Surgeons Agree on When to Perform Surgery, Disagree on the Appropriate Procedure
– Study Shows Minimally Invasive Spine Decompression Effective for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
– Study: Nonfusion Method for Treating Spinal Fractures Effective for Young Patients
