title: Ultrasound diagnosis of lumbar disc degeneration. Comparison with computed tomography/discography.
abstract: Transabdominal ultrasound (US) imaging was compared with computed tomography (CT)/discography in order to assess whether the former could be used for screening discs to be examined by CT/discography, or could be used to replace CT/discography. A total of 56 discs in 29 patients was examined by both methods. The US findings were classified as local or generalized disc lesions, and the CT/discography findings according to the Dallas Discogram Description. The sensitivity of US for recognizing a discographically painful and deteriorated disc was 0.95, and its specificity was 0.38. Correspondingly, the predictive value of a positive US finding was 1.53, and that of a negative finding was 0.13. US is considered suitable for screening discs prior to CT/discography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tervonen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lähde
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vanharanta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007472:Iohexol; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D007472:Iohexol