Ultrashort time-to-echo MRI to evaluate endplate changes : a literature review. Abstract. Back pain is a major health concern in the world. Several causes for the pain origins are known but often the root of the problem remains unspecified. Magnetic resonance imaging has long been the standard technique of imaging the spine but the correlation between MRI findings and the causes of the pain often cannot be found. The interest has been rising for previously radiologically undetectable intervertebral disk structures that physiologically seems to have the capability to cause pain. One of them, cartilaginous endplate, a connection point between vertebral body and intervertebral disk is also a nutrition and innervation pathway for the intervertebral disk. Ultrashort time to echo MRI technique has been developed to image low T2 value tissues such as cartilaginous endplate.

This literature review found 16 articles focusing on ultrashort echo time MRI imaging of cartilaginous endplate. Some articles studied the possibility to detect endplate with ultrashort time to echo. Other studies found correlation between ultrashort echo time MRI findings on cartilaginous endplate and vertebral disk degeneration or back pain. One study formed an automated method for computer to detect endplate MRI findings and another one created a standardization method for them. All articles concluded that larger and more profound studies with larger sample size are required to find the final consensus and the clinical relevance on the matter.