ArticleEuropean radiology2026
Detection of lumbar disc herniation and degeneration using photon-counting detector CT with virtual non-calcium imaging.
Article in European radiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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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.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Photon-counting CT for paraspinal muscle fat quantification compared with MRI proton density fat fraction.BMC medical imaging · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesThis study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of virtual non-calcium (VNCa) imaging using photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) with MRI in assessing lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). MATERIALS AND
methodsPatients with low back pain underwent PCD-CT and MRI within 2 h. Quantitative analysis included VNCa-derived CT values and T2 relaxation times in manually placed regions of interest. Qualitative assessment focused on diagnostic accuracy for LDH and root impingement using grayscale and color-coded VNCa images.
resultsA total of 68 participants (51.8% female; mean age, 48 ± 14 years) were included. A significant negative correlation was observed between VNCa CT and MRI T2 values (r = -0.705, p < 0.001), strongest in the nucleus pulposus. Compared with grayscale CT, color-coded VNCa imaging significantly improved sensitivity (81-94%), specificity (84-95%), and accuracy (84-95%) for detecting LDH (all comparisons, p < 0.001); and improved sensitivity (82-94%), specificity (96-97%), and accuracy (93-96%) for diagnosing root impingement (all comparisons, p < 0.05).
conclusionsPCD-CT with VNCa imaging enables reliable quantification of disc water content and significantly improves diagnostic accuracy for LDH and root impingement. It offers a valuable alternative to MRI, especially in clinical settings where MRI is limited or unavailable. KEY POINTS: Question Can PCD-CT-based virtual non-calcium (VNCa) imaging serve as a reliable alternative to MRI for diagnosing lumbar disc herniation and assessing disc degeneration? Findings VNCa CT values strongly correlated with MRI T2 values, and VNCa images significantly improved diagnostic accuracy for lumbar disc herniation and nerve root impingement. Clinical relevance PCD-CT with VNCa imaging provides an accurate, rapid, and accessible assessment of lumbar disc herniation and disc degeneration, offering a valuable diagnostic alternative for patients unable to undergo MRI.
Indexed as
Identifiers
40779166What Socratic holds
Registered trials
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 Socratic graph.