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High reliability between low-field, high-field MRI seen for features of lumbar disc degeneration
Researchers found excellent reliability between low-field and high-field MRI for disc herniation type and severity, central canal and lateral recess stenosis, and foraminal stenosis among patients with degenerative disease of the lumbar spine.
A total of 100 patients (mean age: 56.3 years) with neurogenic claudication or sciatica underwent low-field (0.25 T) and high-field (1.5 T or 3 T) MRI scans of the lumbar spine for the study. Using established, reliable grading systems, two radiologists evaluated patients’ intervertebral disc herniation; central canal, lateral recess and exit foraminal stenosis; and nerve root compression at L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 for both low-field and high-field systems.
The researchers found the diagnostic agreement between the two MRI field types were excellent with regard to grading several degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine, including disc herniation, central canal stenosis, lateral recess stenosis and exit foramen stenosis. Agreement between fields for nerve root compression was excellent, as well, according to the researchers.
Fifty-two percent of the patients experienced descending or exiting nerve root compression at the L3–L4, L4–L5, or L5–S1 levels, and good agreement was observed between low- and high-field MRI with regard to nerve root compression.
Although reliability between the two field types was excellent, the researchers also noted 0.25 T MRI was more susceptible to motion artifact, most likely due to the longer scanning time. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.