本研究的主要目的為使用磁振造影（Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI）之 T2 遲緩時間圖像（T2 relaxationtime map, T2 Map），來量化並分析椎間盤的退化程度。所使用的儀器為飛利浦 3.0 T 磁振造影儀，針對 16 位主訴為下背痛，且經門診醫師判定須接受腰椎磁振造影之受試者，掃描其第一腰椎（L1）到第二薦椎（S2）的範圍，可量測分析之椎間盤數共計79 例。研究結果在經斯皮爾曼等級相關（Spearman rank-order correlation）分析後，顯示髓核T2 值的減少與椎間盤的退化程度有非常高的負相關（rho = -0.91，p = 0.000，CI：99％），而椎間盤在由正常（第一級）退化到第二級時其 T2 值減少最多，表示利用傳統分級法在椎間盤退化的初期較難以用肉眼辨識椎間盤內水分的改變情形，即敏感度遠低於使用 T2 Map 方法。因此對於早期椎間盤退化的診斷，我們建議 T2Map 是一個相當有效又可靠的非侵入性技術。

The main purpose of this study was to use MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) T2 Map method to quantify and analyze the degree of inter-vertebral disc degeneration. The Philips 3.0 T MRI device was used to measure 16 subjects who were required MRI measurements. A total number of 79 discs were analyzed, ranging from L1 to S2 of these patients. The results by the Spearman rank-order correlation analysis showed that the T2 values of nucleus pulposus and the levels of disc degeneration had a very high degree of negative correlation (rho = -0.91, p = 0.000, CI: 99%). We also found the biggest difference of T2 values existed in between the first grade disc degeneration and the second grade disc
degeneration. Our results indicated that, the traditional classification system is difficult to assess the changes of inter-vertebral disc composition in degeneration at early stage and its sensitivity is far lower than the T2 Map method. We therefore would like to recommend the T2 Map as an effective, reliable and noninvasive diagnostic technique for initial inter-vertebral disc degeneration.