Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40860590›Full record

SynthesisF1000Research2025

Exploring mean kurtosis in MR diffusion kurtosis imaging for early detection of lumbar spine degeneration: a systematic review.

Neil Abraham Barnes, Winniecia Dkhar, Rajagopal Kadavigere, Suresh Sukumar, Abhimanyu Pradhan, Priya P S, Vaishali K

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in F1000Research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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

7 authors.

Neil Abraham BarnesDepartment of Medical Imaging Technology, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.
Winniecia DkharDepartment of Medical Imaging Technology, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5963-3230
Rajagopal KadavigereDepartment of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3486-8740
Suresh SukumarDepartment of Medical Imaging Technology, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9345-9790
Abhimanyu PradhanDepartment of Medical Imaging Technology, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.
Priya P SDepartment of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7201-5733
Vaishali KDepartment of Physiotherapy, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5746-1682

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: Degenerative lumbar spine disease, a leading cause of chronic pain and disability in older adults, results from the progressive degeneration of intervertebral discs. This systematic review evaluates the role of mean kurtosis (MK) as a diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) parameter in the early diagnosis of degenerative spine disease and its potential to enhance patient outcomes. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, with a comprehensive search yielding 7,290 articles. After screening, three studies met the inclusion criteria. Quality assessment was performed using the QUADAS tool, considering studies with a score of ≥10 as high-quality. Data extraction focused on DKI parameters, particularly MK, in assessing early disc degeneration. The study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024554902) on June 5, 2024. Results: Findings indicate that MK plays a crucial role in detecting microstructural changes in the intervertebral disc space of the lumbar spine. These changes closely correlate with clinical symptoms and the extent of degeneration observed on conventional MRI. DKI-derived MK appears to offer greater sensitivity in identifying early-stage microstructural degeneration compared to traditional imaging methods. Conclusions: MR DKI demonstrates significant potential for detecting subtle, early changes in lumbar spine degeneration. Integrating DKI into clinical practice could enhance diagnostic accuracy, enable earlier interventions, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Indexed as

Diffusion Tensor ImagingIntervertebral Disc DegenerationLumbar VertebraeEarly DiagnosisHumansDegenerative SpineDiffusion Kurtosis ImagingIntervertebral disc spaceMagnetic Resonance Imaging

Identifiers

PMID40860590
PMCPMC12374150

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.