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- Title
High-intensity zone (HIZ) of lumbar intervertebral disc on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images: spatial distribution, and correlation of distribution with low back pain (LBP).
- Authors
Wang, Zi-Xuan; Hu, You-Gu
- Abstract
Objectives: To analyze the three-dimensional distribution of high-intensity zone (HIZ) in lumbar disks and to assess the correlation between low back pain (LBP) and spatial distribution of HIZs. Methods: Clinical records and lumbar MRIs of 623 patients (337 males and 286 females, age 50.10 ± 15.38 years) were selected and reviewed. Baseline characteristics and 3D localization were performed and recorded by two radiologists in a blind fashion. Results: Among the 623 patients, 200 exhibited an HIZ in at least one disk. HIZs were more frequently seen in the inferior part of annulus fibrosus (superior-middle-inferior ratio 39:59:140, P < 0.001). One hundred and eighty-one HIZs (76.1%) occurred at L4/5 and/or L5/S1. The prevalence of multi-segmental HIZ was 16.5%. Among the 33 patients with multi-segmental HIZs, 24 exhibited HIZs in adjacent disks. The LBP rate of HIZ patients was significantly higher than that of patients who exhibited no HIZ (57.5 vs. 47.8%, P < 0.05). There was no evidence for a correlation between LBP and spatial distribution of HIZ in disk ( P > 0.05). The incidence of LBP was slightly higher when the HIZ disk level was lower or when there were HIZs exhibited in more disks; however, the difference was statistically insignificant ( P > 0.05). Conclusions: High-intensity zones occurred frequently at lower segments, inferior part of annulus fibrosus, and single disk.
- Subjects
BACKACHE; INTERVERTEBRAL disk; MAGNETIC resonance imaging; BACK diseases; LUMBAR vertebrae diseases
- Publication
European Spine Journal, 2012, Vol 21, Issue 7, p1311
- ISSN
0940-6719
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00586-012-2240-0