A preliminary analysis for vertebral marrow fat and disc herniation or annular tear by simultaneous multi-relaxation-time Imaging (TXI) method

Recently T1 mapping, T2* mapping and bone marrow fat fraction (BMFF) has been separately applied to spine. But it hasn't studied the value of those mappings together with intervertebral discs (IVD) degeneration. In this study, we obtained three values (T1, T2* and BMFF value) by simultaneous multi-relaxation-time imaging technique, called TXI. We found that T1 values in abnormal (herniation or annular tear) disc were significantly lower than those in the normal. This study demonstrates that T1 mapping can be helpful in detecting IVD with herniation or annular tear.