Table 3 Analysis of morphological and compositional imaging features of lumbar intervertebral disks (IVDs)

gagCEST values [%]

Patients

2.7 ± 1.7

2.1 ± 1.7

1.9 ± 1.6

1.8 ± 1.4

1.9 ± 2.0

2.0 ± 1.7

Volunteers

3.1 ± 1.7

2.2 ± 1.6

2.1 ± 1.6

2.4 ± 1.7

2.1 ± 2.3

2.4 ± 1.8

Pfirrmann Score [1–5]

Patients

2.4 ± 0.7

2.5 ± 0.8

2.4 ± 0.7

2.5 ± 0.6

2.7 ± 0.8

2.5 ± 0.7

Volunteers

2.1 ± 0.5

2.3 ± 0.7

2.4 ± 0.6

2.4 ± 0.6

2.6 ± 0.7

2.4 ± 0.6

SPARCC acute inflammation [0–12]

Patients

1 ± 2.4

0.4 ± 1.3

0.2 ± 1

0.6 ± 1.6

0.6 ± 2.3

0.6 ± 1.8

Fatty depositions [0–12]

Patients

4.3 ± 3.9

3.4 ± 2.8

3.9 ± 3.2

4.2 ± 3.1

3.8 ± 3.1

3.9 ± 3.2

Syndesmophytes [0–2]

Patients

1.3 ± 1.3

1.2 ± 1.2

1.3 ± 1.1

1.2 ± 1.2

1.4 ± 1.4

1.3 ± 1.2