This study aims to develop a T1ρ dispersion protocol method for human lumbar spine imaging, with a specific goal to detect proteoglycan loss in the intervertebral disc (IVD), which is an initial step in degenerative disc disease (DDD). T1ρ dispersion parametric images are able to distinguish the nucleus pulposus from annulus fibrosus based on differences in exchangeable protons, as predicted theoretically. This work is relevant for clinical applications for DDDas it provides novel, quantitative, and clinically translatable in vivo imaging biomarkers capable of detecting proteoglycan changes.
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