ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2026
Comparison of the predictive value of mri-based cervical endplate bone quality (C-EBQ) score and cervical vertebral bone quality (C-VBQ) score for the progression of cervical disc degeneration.
Article in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundNeck pain represents a significant global public health burden, frequently attributable to cervical disc degeneration (CDD). Early and precise diagnosis is critical, particularly for directing timely surgical intervention and preventing irreversible neurological compromise. CDD progression is closely associated with alterations in vertebral body and endplate bone quality. The Cervical Endplate Bone Quality (C-EBQ) and Cervical Vertebral Bone Quality (C-VBQ) scores enable quantitative analysis of endplate and vertebral bone quality on Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), providing novel insights for early degeneration detection. However, their predictive value for CDD progression remains underexplored. This study aimed to compare the predictive efficacy of MRI-based C-EBQ and C-VBQ scores for CDD progression.
methodsA retrospective cohort of 71 patients (284 disc segments) with serial cervical MRI scans (≥ 3-year interval) was analyzed. C-EBQ and C-VBQ scores were derived from T1-weighted MRI signal intensities of endplates and vertebral bodies, normalized against cerebrospinal fluid. Disc degeneration progression was defined as an increase in Pfirrmann grade. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U tests, chi-square tests, generalized estimating equations (GEE), multivariate logistic regression, and ROC curve analysis.
resultsC-EBQ score showed significant association with CDD progression (p < 0.001). Generalized estimating equations identified C-EBQ (OR = 0.073, 95% CI:0.025-0.217) and C-VBQ (OR = 4.165, 95% CI:1.393-12.451) as independent predictors. ROC analysis revealed superior predictive performance for C-EBQ (AUC = 0.717, 95% CI:0.648-0.786) compared to C-VBQ (AUC = 0.578, 95% CI:0.496-0.660).
conclusionsC-EBQ and C-VBQ scores effectively predict CDD progression, with C-EBQ demonstrating significantly higher accuracy. These findings highlight the clinical utility of MRI-based endplate bone quality assessment for early diagnosis and monitoring of cervical disc degeneration.
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