Radiological prevalence of lumbar intervertebral disc calcification in the elderly: an autopsy study.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the in vitro radiological prevalence of lumbar intervertebral disc calcification (IDC) in the elderly and its relation to osteoarthritis (OA).


METHODS
Lumbar spine segments comprising L2-4 were resected from 60 cadavers (30 males, 30 females; average age 67 years) and investigated with high-contrast radiography and computed tomography (CT).


CONCLUSIONS
IDC was found in 58.3% of the patients using high-contrast radiography and in 46.7% of the patients using CT. IDC prevalence and OA grades in the lumbar spine and right hand were found to increase with age. IDC prevalence and OA grades for L2-3 were not significantly different from those for L3-4. No significant sex difference was found for IDC prevalence and OA grades. The results indicate that IDC is significantly underestimated in vivo by conventional radiography and the intervertebral disc calcification may be a common phenomenon in aging. The exact relation IDC to OA remains undetermined.
Cheng
X G
XG
Arthritis and Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Unit, University Hospitals K.U. Leuven, Pellenberg, Belgium.
Brys
P
P
Nijs
J
J
Nicholson
P
P
Jiang
Y
Y
Baert
A L
AL
Dequeker
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media