Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of axial T2 and axial 3D FIESTA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences in the evaluation of cervical spondylosis.The specific objectives were to: (i) compare the accuracy of axial T2 and axial 3D FIESTA MRI sequences in the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis, (ii) compare the quality of images (signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio and artefact due to flow) produced from both sequences and (iii) ascertain the association of cervical spondylosis with sex and age in the studied population. This was a cross sectional study carried out at radiology department of Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital,Sokoto. Eighty subjects from 30 years and abovewere selected using convenience sampling method. Images of axial T2, axial T1, sagittal T1, sagittal T2 and axial 3D FIESTA sequences were acquired for each subject usinga General Electric 0.2 Tesla closed magnet MRI scanner with serial No: GE Signal “R” profile “M” HD5177477-100sS. Axial T2 and axial 3D FIESTA images were read and were assessed qualitatively using the five point Likert scale. The images were assessed for visibility of anatomical structures, quality of image in terms of signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio and sensitivity to artefacts due to flow of fluid (blood and cerebrospinal fluid). Also indicators of cervical spondylosis were assessed qualitatively. Statistical Package for Social Science version 21 was used in the analysis of the generated data. Wilcoxon Sign Rank Test was used to compare the quality of images produced by both sequences. Regression analysis was used to assess the association of indicators of cervical spondylosis with sex and age. The median scores for axial T2 and axial 3D FIESTA sequences with respect to visibility of anatomical structures were 25.00 and 25.00,Wilcoxon Sign Rank Test showed no significant difference between them at 0.168 (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the median score of images produced by both sequences with respect to signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio and artefact due to cerebrospinal fluid (3.00, 3.00 and 3.00 respectively) (p<0.05). However, axial T2 sequence was less sensitive to artefacts (due to flow of blood) than axial 3D FIESTA with a significance difference of 0.00 (p<0.05) in their median value. In conclusion, axial 3D FIESTA is as accurate as axial T2 sequence in visibility of anatomical structures, image quality and prediction of cervical spondylosis (p<0.05). Disc tear is not a good predictor of cervical spondylosis. As age increases the tendency to have cervical spondylosis increases and males are more prone to it than female (p<0.05).
