RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Microscopic Assessment of Degenerated Intervertebral Disc: Clinical Implications and Possible Therapeutic Challenge
JF In Vivo
JO In Vivo
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 95
OP 102
VO 29
IS 1
A1 MANUEL OPREA
A1 IULIAN POPA
A1 ANCA MARIA CIMPEAN
A1 MARIUS RAICA
A1 DAN V. POENARU
YR 2015
UL http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/29/1/95.abstract
AB Aim: To investigate a possible correlation between the histological and morphometric properties of herniated intervertebral disc, clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of patients with lumbar disc degeneration (LDD). Materials and Methods: Thirty six patients with LDD were clinically evaluated using Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score (JOAS), visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain in the lower back or in the pelvic limb; MRI-based classification according to Pfirrmann and Modic criteria. All patients underwent decompressive surgery and herniated intervertebral disc samples were histologically and morphometrically analyzed. Data obtained were statistically analyzed for bivariate and partial correlations. Results: The mean area size of chondron clusters correlated with age, JOAS (r=−0.385, p=0.032, tau=−0.279, rho=-0.380), Pfirrmann (r=0.505, p=0.002, tau=0.289, rho=0.365) and Modic (r=0.500, p=0.002, tau=0.331, rho=0.419) grading. There was a strong correlation between maximum area size of chondrons and JOAS (r=−0.427, p=0.009, tau=−0.299, rho=−0.430), Pfirrmann changes (r=0.432, p=0.008, tau=0.309, rho=0.388) and Modic endplate changes (r=0.444, p=0.007, tau=0.343, rho=0.434). JOAS correlated with both MRI classifications used for LDD. Conclusion: The intervertebral disc cells tend to aggregate in clusters and the size of the chondrons from LDD correlated with JOAS, Pfirrmann and Modic. JOAS correlates with the imagistic evaluation systems Pfirrmann and Modic.