Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: Annular fissures are common findings on MR studies of the lumbar spine but have not been specifically examined in the thoracic spine. We sought to review the prevalence and stability of MRI imaging features of thoracic annular fissures and the association of thoracic AFs with intervertebral degenerative disk changes.
METHODS: We surveyed 10 years of MRI studies in which patients had one or more repeated examinations of the thoracic spine. For every annular fissure, we recorded its imaging features on all pulse sequences and the evolution of those imaging findings across all time periods.
RESULTS: We reviewed 210 patients and discovered that 66 (31.4%) had at least one thoracic annular fissure. The presence of annular fissures was positively correlated with older age and male gender. The initial annular fissure was always hyperintense on T2WI and annular fissures remained hyperintense on T2WI over time in all cases but showed less hyperintensity in 23.9% (n = 39/163) and more hyperintensity in 4.9% (n = 8/163). The rate of concomitant disk bulges was 85.8% (n = 140/163). Of the 71 annular fissures in which gadolinium-enhanced studies were performed, 20 (28.1%) showed enhancement and 14/20 (70%) annular fissures showed persistent enhancement over time (mean follow-up = 39.6 ± 44.1 months).
CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic annular fissures rarely resolve, remain hyperintense on T2WI, and, if they enhance, that enhancement generally persists.
METHODS: We surveyed 10 years of MRI studies in which patients had one or more repeated examinations of the thoracic spine. For every annular fissure, we recorded its imaging features on all pulse sequences and the evolution of those imaging findings across all time periods.
RESULTS: We reviewed 210 patients and discovered that 66 (31.4%) had at least one thoracic annular fissure. The presence of annular fissures was positively correlated with older age and male gender. The initial annular fissure was always hyperintense on T2WI and annular fissures remained hyperintense on T2WI over time in all cases but showed less hyperintensity in 23.9% (n = 39/163) and more hyperintensity in 4.9% (n = 8/163). The rate of concomitant disk bulges was 85.8% (n = 140/163). Of the 71 annular fissures in which gadolinium-enhanced studies were performed, 20 (28.1%) showed enhancement and 14/20 (70%) annular fissures showed persistent enhancement over time (mean follow-up = 39.6 ± 44.1 months).
CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic annular fissures rarely resolve, remain hyperintense on T2WI, and, if they enhance, that enhancement generally persists.
摘要：
目的：环裂是腰椎MR研究的常见发现，但尚未在胸椎进行专门检查。我们试图回顾胸环形裂隙的MRI成像特征的患病率和稳定性，以及胸AF与椎间盘退行性变化的关联。
方法：我们调查了10年的MRI研究，其中患者进行了一次或多次胸椎重复检查。对于每个环形裂缝，我们记录了所有脉冲序列的成像特征以及这些成像结果在所有时间段的演变.
结果：我们回顾了210例患者，发现66例（31.4%）有至少一个胸环状裂。环状裂缝的存在与年龄和男性呈正相关。在所有情况下，最初的环形裂隙在T2WI上始终是高强度的，并且随着时间的推移，环形裂隙在T2WI上仍然是高强度的，但在23.9％（n=39/163）中显示出较少的高强度（n=8/163）。伴随的椎间盘凸起率为85.8％（n=140/163）。在进行钆增强研究的71个环形裂缝中，20（28.1%）显示增强，14/20（70%）环状裂隙显示持续增强（平均随访=39.6±44.1个月）。
结论：胸环形裂隙很少消退，在T2WI上保持高强度，and,如果它们增强，这种增强通常会持续存在。
方法：我们调查了10年的MRI研究，其中患者进行了一次或多次胸椎重复检查。对于每个环形裂缝，我们记录了所有脉冲序列的成像特征以及这些成像结果在所有时间段的演变.
结果：我们回顾了210例患者，发现66例（31.4%）有至少一个胸环状裂。环状裂缝的存在与年龄和男性呈正相关。在所有情况下，最初的环形裂隙在T2WI上始终是高强度的，并且随着时间的推移，环形裂隙在T2WI上仍然是高强度的，但在23.9％（n=39/163）中显示出较少的高强度（n=8/163）。伴随的椎间盘凸起率为85.8％（n=140/163）。在进行钆增强研究的71个环形裂缝中，20（28.1%）显示增强，14/20（70%）环状裂隙显示持续增强（平均随访=39.6±44.1个月）。
结论：胸环形裂隙很少消退，在T2WI上保持高强度，and,如果它们增强，这种增强通常会持续存在。
