title: Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine. A comparison with computed tomography and myelography.
abstract: Two hundred and fifty patients were referred for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine. Computed tomography (CT) and MRI were performed in 50 patients and MRI, CT and myelography in 20 patients. Twenty patients had surgical confirmation of the imaging studies. MRI was best for demonstrating degenerated discs. MRI was better than CT for demonstrating disc bulge without herniation, and MRI was slightly better for herniated disc demonstration than CT. Myelography did not demonstrate degenerated discs.
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Pevsner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ondra
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Radcliff
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McDonnell
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furlow
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dagi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009192:Myelography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed