1. Diagnosis and evaluation of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament on Zero-Echo Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging: an illustrative case series.
- Author
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Caffard T, Chiapparelli E, Arzani A, Tani S, Camino-Willhuber G, Finos K, Burkhard MD, Zippelius T, Breighner RE, Carrino JA, Dalton D, and Hughes AP
- Subjects
- Humans, Retrospective Studies, Male, Female, Middle Aged, Aged, Adult, Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament diagnostic imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods, Cervical Vertebrae diagnostic imaging, Tomography, X-Ray Computed methods
- Abstract
Purpose: Computed tomography (CT) scans are widely used clinically in the diagnosis of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Conventionally acquired magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is limited by insufficient signal intensity within bone tissue. Osseus conspicuity may be enhanced by applying sequences with "CT-like" bone contrast zero-echo time (ZTE) MRI. This is a case series aimed to understand if ZTE-MRI is sensitive in detecting cervical OPLL and if this modality is suitable for evaluating OPLL morphology., Methods: A retrospective review was performed to identify adult patients with available cervical ZTE-MRI and CT scans. ZTE-MRI and CT were evaluated for their ability to detect OPLL by 2 attending spine surgeons, 1 spine surgery clinical fellow, and 1 senior orthopedic resident. The phenotype of OPLL was then described and compared between the two modalities., Results: A total of 50 patients were reviewed. All clinicians detected 4 cases of OPLL on CT, and the same cases were independently found on ZTE-MRI. The modalities were then compared to assess the phenotype of OPLL., Conclusion: ZTE-MRI may have the potential to obviate the need for concurrent CT scans in diagnosing OPLL. When OPLL was suspected on MRI, ZTE-MRI could confirm the OPLL diagnosis. With conventional MRI sequences that include additional post-processed ZTE-MRI, clinicians can also assess OPLL morphology and the resulting spinal cord change to make a complete diagnosis and identify patients at higher risk for progression or complications. ZTE-MRI avoids CT-related radiation, can improve diagnosis, and decrease health costs., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. Dr. Carrino reports consulting for Pfizer, Inc; Eli-Lilly; Globus Medical, Inc.; Regeneron; AstraZeneca; scientific advisory board/other office position with Carestream; Image Analysis Group; Image Biopsy Lab. Dr. Hughes reports research support from Kuros Biosciences AG and Expanding Innovations, Inc.; private investments in Tissue Connect Systems, Inc.; and fellowship support from NuVasive, Inc. outside the submitted work. Ethics approval: This retrospective chart review study involving human participants was in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Hospital for Special Surgery approved this study (#2023–0413). Consent to Participate and Publish: Informed consent was waived due to the retrospective nature of the study., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)
- Published
- 2024
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