T2 mapping and fat quantification of lumbar paraspinal muscle in ankylosing spondylitis: a case control study

Table 3 Comparison of quantitative MRI measurements between AS patients and healthy controls

Muscle	FF (%)^a		CSA (mm²)^b		T2_fatsat value (ms)^b		T2_non-fatsat value (ms)^a
Muscle	HC (n = 37)	AS (n = 37)	HC (n = 37)	AS (n = 37)	HC (n = 37)	AS (n = 37)	HC (n = 37)	AS (n = 37)
L3/4 MF	23.78 ± 4.76	27.98 ± 9.04**	590.48 ± 112.76	526.87 ± 78.81**	37.56 ± 1.72	40.35 ± 3.43***	45.37 ± 3.36	51.05 ± 7.48***
L3/4 ES	25.84 ± 4.98	31.16 ± 7.51***	1838.55 ± 375.75	1575.53 ± 296.72***	37.38 ± 1.94	38.51 ± 2.29*	44.64 ± 4.15	48.62 ± 6.18**
L4/5 MF	27.38 ± 6.01	30.78 ± 7.76*	888.26 ± 93.79	827.01 ± 152.97*	38.77 ± 3.55	39.27 ± 4.52	47.78 ± 5.05	52.50 ± 7.21*
L4/5 ES	30.79 ± 5.45	35.93 ± 7.69***	1459.61 ± 278.13	1276.23 ± 237.94**	38.17 ± 6.24	39.50 ± 2.52	47.68 ± 5.08	52.73 ± 7.51***

Note: The values are given as means ± standard deviation; ^a independent samples t test; ^b Mann–Whitney U test
AS Ankylosing spondylitis, HC Healthy control, MF multifidus, ES erector spinae, FF Fat fraction, CSA Cross-sectional area
^*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, versus healthy controls

ISSN: 1471-2474