COMPARISON OF CONVENTIONAL FAST SPIN ECHO SEQUENCES WITH T2 FAST SPIN ECHO DIXON SEQUENCE IN EVALUATION OF LUMBAR DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE

Aim: The objective of the study is to compare lumbar disc degenerative disc disease, Modic endplate changes, and High-intensity zones in the routine protocol (T1WFSE, T2WTSE, and STIR) with the T2WFSE Dixon sequence. Methods: The study included forty patients who presented with clinically suspected low back pain. Each patient underwent an MRI examination of the lumbar spine, which included routine protocol sagittal T2W FSE, T1W TSE, and STIR sequences, along with an additional T2W FSE Dixon sequence. The assessment of lumbar disc degeneration (DDD), high-intensity zones (HIZ), and Modic endplate changes (MEPC) was performed independently by three readers using both the routine protocol and the Dixon sequence. Results: The study group comprised of 40 patients, with 23 males and 17 females. The mean age of the patients was 51 years (15 to 84 years). Among the 200 discs reviewed by the three readers, 107 discs (53.4%) were classied as normal, 57 discs (28.5%) showed early degenerative disc disease (DDD), 21 discs (10.5%) exhibited moderate DDD, 17 discs (7.83%) were identied as advanced DDD. Type 1 Modic endplate changes (MEPC) were observed in 15 discs (7.5%), while type 2 MEPC was seen in 4 discs (2%). Additionally, highintensity zones (HIZ) were detected in 16 discs (7.9%). The Dixon protocol has high signicance in the evaluation of DDD, MEPC, and HIZs compared to routine sagittal sequences. Conclusion: A single sagittal T2W FSE Dixon sequence may serve as a viable alternative to the conventional sagittal T1W TSE, T2W FSE, and STIR sequences commonly employed in lumbar spine imaging. This substitution can lead to a signicant reduction in scan time, approximately 65%, when performed at 3T.