Diagnostic and prognostic utility of diffusion kurtosis imaging in cervical spine degeneration: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Clin RadiolJun 17, 2026 (epub)
A Prabhu, A Pradhan, P S Priya et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic utility of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in cervical spine degeneration, analyzing eight studies with 273 participants. The results indicated significant differences in mean kurtosis (MK) and fractional anisotropy (FA) in grey matter between patients and controls, suggesting DKI's potential for detecting microstructural changes.
Key findings
- In grey matter, MK and FA were significantly higher in patients compared to controls.
- White matter findings were nonsignificant with moderate heterogeneity.
- Mean diffusivity (MD) showed no significant differences in white matter.
- Associations between DKI metrics and clinical severity scores were reported.
Why it matters
Understanding the diagnostic and prognostic capabilities of DKI could enhance early detection of cervical spine degeneration, potentially improving patient outcomes by facilitating timely interventions.