Correlation Between The Image Features Of Lumbar Spine Degeneration(LSD)on Radionuclide Bone Imaging(RBI)and The Location Or Severity Of LSD On CT

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the image features of lumbar spine degeneration on radionuclide bone imaging and the location or severity of LSD on CT.Understanding the characteristics of RBI for LSD.Materials and Methods: Review the imaging signs of 120 patients with LSD on RBI and CT,then record the location or severity of LSD on CT and the shape or severity of nuclide accumulations on RBI,and find the correlation between the location or severity of LSD on CT and the shape or severity of nuclide accumulations on RBI by statistical analysis.(1)lumbar hyperosteogeny:?,none of vertebral hyperplasia;?,the maximum length of the osteophyte is less than 3mm;?,the maximum length of the osteophyte is more than 3mm.(2)facet joint hyperplasia and sclerosis:?,none of the facet joint hyperplasia and sclerosis;?,the maximum length of the osteophyte of the facet joint hyperplasia is less than 2mm;?,the maximum length of the osteophyte of the facet joint hyperplasia is more than 2mm,or facet joint hypertrophy.(3)vertebral endplate sclerosis:?,without endplate sclerosis;?,the sclerosis of one side of vertebral plate;?,the sclerosis of both sides of vertebral plate.(4)disc bulge or herniation:?,none of disc bulge or herniation;?,the intervertebral disc is bulging less than 3mm;?,the intervertebral disc is bulging more than 3mm,or the local protrusion of the intervertebral disc.Severity of nuclide accumulations on RBI:?,none of abnormal nuclide accumulations;?,the range area of the abnormal nuclide accumulations is less than half of the vertebral area;?,the range area of the abnormal nuclide accumulations is more than half of the vertebral area.The forms of nuclide accumulations including: “a reversed syndrome” or "eye sign" nuclide accumulations,holovertebral nuclide accumulations and irregular nuclide accumulations.Results: Positive correlation was detected between severity of nuclide accumulations on RBI and severity of lumbar hyperosteogeny,facet joint hyperplasia or sclerosis,endplate sclerosis and disc bulge or herniation by Spearman correlation analysis respectively(r= 0.588,0.465,0.152 and 0.305).The t value was 17.777,12.844,3.761 and 7.832 respectively(P<0.05).There were statistical positive correlations between severity of nuclide accumulations on RBI and severity of lumbar hyperosteogeny,facet joint hyperplasia or sclerosis,endplate sclerosis and disc bulge or herniation on CT respectively.The special sign “a reversed syndrome” was only found in 8 vertebral bodies and “eye sign”was only found in 7 vertebral bodies on RBI,all of which have 3 degree facet joint hyperplasia or hypertrophy on CT.Conclusion: Severity of nuclide accumulations of LSD on RBI is correlated with severity of of lumbar hyperosteogeny,facet joint hyperplasia or sclerosis,endplate sclerosis and disc bulge or herniation on CT.“A reversed syndrome”or “eye sign”on RBI plays an important role in clinical diagnosis as a special performance of facet joint degeneration.Therefore,special attention should be paid to the abnormal nuclide accumulations of the vertebral body caused by LSD.If necessary,combined with CT or MR to avoid misdiagnosis.