Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42693219›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Quantification of intervertebral disc degeneration using dual-energy computed tomography collagen maps: a comparative study with MRI Pfirrmann grading.

Lara Farkic, Carsten Stelbrink, Friedemann Goehler, Kerstin Rubarth, Yan Klosterkemper, Friederike Schömig, Matthias Pumberger, Denis Poddubnyy, Dominik Deppe, Robert Biesen and 3 more

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Lara FarkicDepartment of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany. lara.farkic@charite.de.ORCID 0000-0003-3139-3380
Carsten StelbrinkDepartment of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
Friedemann GoehlerDepartment of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
Kerstin RubarthInstitute for Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
Yan KlosterkemperDepartment of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
Friederike SchömigCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Campus Mitte, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
Matthias PumbergerCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Campus Mitte, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
Denis PoddubnyyDepartment of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology (including Nutrition Medicine), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, 12203, Berlin, Germany.
Dominik DeppeDepartment of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
Robert BiesenDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
Mikhail ProtopopovDepartment of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology (including Nutrition Medicine), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, 12203, Berlin, Germany.
Torsten DiekhoffDepartment of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
Julian PohlanDepartment of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

To determine the correlation between quantitative HU values derived from DECT collagen maps and the MRI-based Pfirrmann grade. We retrospectively reviewed IVDs in patients who underwent both spinal DECT and MRI within one year. CT scans were acquired using single-source DECT at 80 and 135-kVp with automatic exposure control. Three readers scored IVDs according to Pfirrmann et al. on T2-weighted MRI images. Quantitative evaluation involved placing three standardized regions of interest in each IVD in DECT-based cMaps; in corresponding 135-kVp DECT scans and MRI images. Mean density measurements of AF and NP were compared with PF-grades using linear mixed model analysis. We included 339 IVDs of 97 patients [mean age 59.1 years]; (53 women [mean age 63.5 years] and 44 men [mean age 53.8 years]). cMap analysis revealed a significant difference of AF and NP collagen and chondroitin density between PF-grade I and V(AF: MD = - 31.1HU (95% CI - 59.5 to - 2.7), p = 0.032;NP:MD = - 37.8HU (95% CI - 73.6 to - 2.0), p = 0.038). 135-kVp DECT showed no IVD density reduction corresponding to PF-grades. MRI showed significant reduction of signal intensities in AF and NP with increasing PF-grades. IVD collagen and chondroitin density declined with increasing PF-grade in DECT-based cMaps, suggesting DECT-based cMaps as an additional tool for IVD classification.

Indexed as

CollagenIntervertebral Disc DegenerationMagnetic Resonance ImagingTomography, X-Ray ComputedAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesCollagenDECT cMapsIntervertebral disc degenerationPfirrmann-grade

Identifiers

PMID42693219
PMCPMC13542269

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.