Evaluation of Diagnostic Value of DW Sequence in Differentiating Infectious Spondylitis from Degenerative Endplate Type1

Abstract

Background & Objectives: DWI is one of the useable sequences in MRI which currently being used in the assessment of vertebral column especially for malignant or benign causes. Considering that few studies have been performed regarding the use of DW sequences in spondylitis differentiating of disease with degenerative changes of vertebral yet; hence we intended to found the diagnostic value of DW sequence in spondylitis differentiating of infectious from degenerative changes of end plate type 1 with designing this study. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out on patients who referred to the Pejvak MRI center with spondylitis lesions and osteochondrosis grade I, involving the vertebral column during 2012-2013; and to differentiate these lesions was used the T1, T2 and DWI sequences. Obtained results were analyzed by SPSSv16 statistical software. Results: In this study, in T1WI sequences the images of both groups was hyposignal and in T2WI sequences was hypersignal (p=0.01). In DW sequence with b value of 50, 400 and 800 (s/mm2) was observed that the signal changes in higher b value was apparent and in lower b value both detection had many similarities to each other due to the annoying effect of T2 Shine-through. As well as the mean of ADC map in spondylitisis images) 1.31 ± 0.24x 10-3 mm2/s (was less than osteochondrosis grade I with a mean ADC map (1.79 ± 0.24x 10-3 mm2/s) (P<0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study showed images with high b value could be having a good differentiation to distinguish the spondylitis from osteocondrosis.