An MRI study of solute transport in the intervertebral disc.

Objective: Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging was used to determine partition coefficients and characteristic time constants for diffusion of MRI contrast agents in disc tissue.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two excised equine intervertebral discs were exposed to a range of contrast agents: six to manganese chloride, eight to Magnevist (gadopentetate dimeglumine) and eight to Gadovist (gadobutrol), and uptake into the disc was quantified in T-weighted images.

Results: Diffusion for all contrast agents was approximately 25% faster in the nucleus than in the outer annulus; disc-average time constants ranged from (2.

Increased radiation dose and projected radiation-related lifetime cancer risk in patients with obesity due to projection radiography.

Purpose: Primarily to evaluate the radiation dose delivered to patients with obesity in projection radiography and its relationship to the patient's size. A secondary purpose is to estimate the subsequent projected radiation-related lifetime cancer risk to patients with obesity compared to normal-weight patients.

Method And Material: Data from 1964 patients from a bariatric clinic in the UK were reviewed with the relevant permission.