Quantitative UTE-MRI of the Cartilaginous Endplate as a Biomarker for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Sam Sedaghat
• Subject Area: Radiology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 569775876

Intervertebral disc degeneration is one of the most common causes of chronic back pain. The intervertebral disc acts as a dynamic spacer between the vertebral bodies and is connected to them via the cartilaginous endplate (CEP). The CEP plays a crucial role in the nutrient supply of the intervertebral disc, which is why its degeneration and calcification are considered key factors in disc degeneration. Progressive CEP degeneration correlates with increasing water loss and structural impairment of the nucleus pulposus (NP). Currently, clinical MRI techniques for direct CEP assessment are lacking, as conventional sequences suffer from signal loss due to the short T2 relaxation times of the CEP. However, ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequences with extremely short echo times (down to 8 µs) allow for the first-time direct high-resolution imaging of the CEP. Particularly promising is the 3D IR-FS-UTE sequence, which enables selective suppression of long T2 signals, providing high-contrast CEP visualization. This study aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of CEP degeneration and its role in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration. Specifically, the objectives are to: I. Quantify the correlation between CEP degeneration and disc/NP degeneration to better understand the structural relationships between these processes, II. Analyze variations in CEP degeneration, both across different subject groups and within the same subject (e.g., between different vertebral levels), III. Validate the performance of the 3D IR-FS-UTE sequence, demonstrating its reliability for qualitative and quantitative CEP imaging in a large cohort. To achieve these goals, the project will include the following methodological steps: I. Optimization of the 3D IR-FS-UTE sequence on phantom models and healthy subjects, II. Examination of a broad cohort of subjects with different stages of intervertebral disc degeneration, III. Detailed quantitative analysis of the CEP and the intervertebral disc, including the definition of standardized reference values using Matlab (MathWorks) and other image processing methods, IV. Advanced statistical analyses considering potential data clustering, ensuring robust correlations between CEP and intervertebral disc changes. In summary, this project will enable a systematic and quantitative characterization of CEP degeneration using UTE-MRI and evaluate its relevance as a potential biomarker for intervertebral disc degeneration. The findings could make a significant contribution to the better differentiation of degenerative disc processes and serve as the foundation for future clinical applications and studies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: USA
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Hyungseok Jang