Towards consistency for magnetic resonance (MR) relaxometry of lumbar intervertebral discs

Lumber disc degeneration is a potential cause of low back pain (LBP). Though disc degeneration itself is not diagnostic for LBP (1-4), in a recent meta-analysis for adults 50 years of age or younger, Brinjikji et al. (5) reported disc degeneration is associated with LBP (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.21–4.15, P=0.01). Many studies on magnetic resonance (MR) relaxometry and disc degeneration have been published (6-8). Novel minimally invasive therapies, such as with injected growth factors or genetic materials, have the potential clinical application to treat pathological disc degeneration (9). MR relaxometry may be useful in clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of these therapies (9,10).