| Study Result |
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MRI of the lumbar spine obtained with multiple axial and sagittal
imaging sequences. There are no prior films of the lumbar spine are
available for comparison. Study is being performed for low back pain
and right leg sciatica for 3 years.
Findings:
Alignment is normal. The conus terminates posterior to the
lumbosacral junction.
There is decreased disc signal at L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 with decreased
disc height at L4-5.
There is no abnormality in the retroperitoneum.
L1-2 and L23 were examined only in the sagittal plane and were normal.
At L3-4 disc signal is slightly decreased and there is diffuse disc
bulge extending into both neural foramen minimally without nerve root
compression. There is minimal facet arthrosis and no evidence of
central stenosis.
At L4-5 disc signal and height are decreased and there is mild
anterolisthesis. There is a diffuse disc bulge with a right sided
annular fissure well seen on series 5 image 15. Disc bulge is
extending into and narrowing the right neural foramen where it is
abutting the right L4 nerve root (series 1 and 2 image 11). There is
moderately severe bilateral facet arthrosis and ligamentum flavum
hypertrophy and mild multifactorial central canal stenosis.
At L5-S1 there is fatty endplate degeneration. There is a small right
paracentral disc protrusion with an annular fissure which abuts the
right S1 nerve root on series 4 and 5 image 23 within the
subarticular lateral recess. The facets and flava are intact.
IMPRESSION:
Multilevel degenerative disc disease most severe at L4-5 where there
is multifactorial central canal stenosis and a disc bulge with a
right annular fissure entering the neural foramen where it abuts the
right L4 nerve root. At L5-S1 there is a right paracentral disc
protrusion superimposed upon a diffuse disc bulge abutting the right
S1 nerve root.
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