Unlocking the Secrets of Lumbar Disc Degeneration: Revealing Early Changes using Advanced 23Na MRI

Motivation: The global impact of lumbar back pain requires an understanding of degenerative disc disease. Conventional MRI often misses early changes, necessitating a more sensitive technique for accurate detection. Goal(s): To determine the efficacy of 3T-MRI with 23Na in accurately assessing degeneration to provide a deeper understanding of the correlation between sodium concentrations and proteoglycan levels in intervertebral discs. Approach: Examination of human lumbar spine samples ex vivo using a 23Na-surface-coil, which enabled accurate determination of 23Na relaxation times and quantification of tissue sodium concentrations (TSCs). Results: Results showed a significant correlation between decreasing TSC values and progression of Thompson grading. Impact: This exciting research represents a significant advance in the field of lumbar disc degeneration assessment and promises to be an important part of a paradigm shift in diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies for patients with lumbar back pain.