Lumbosacral nerve root enhancement with disk herniation on contrast-enhanced MR.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical importance of nerve root enhancement associated with lumbar disk herniation.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients with lumbar disk herniation were examined with unenhanced and contrast-enhanced MR imaging. We investigated the relationship between nerve root enhancement and location of herniated disk in the epidural space, onset pattern of symptoms, subsequent treatment, and surgical findings.


RESULTS
Ten of the 32 patients had nerve root enhancement, and all belonged to the group with abrupt and severe nerve root compression with no residual space for the root between the herniated disk and the pedicle in the lateral recess. Tight compression of the root without mobility was seen in the four patients with nerve root enhancement who were treated surgically.


CONCLUSIONS
Nerve root enhancement may indicate the existence of abrupt and severe compression of the nerve root as well as the presence of severe adhesion of the herniated disk and the nerve root. This finding does not necessarily determine the type of subsequent treatment.
Department of Radiology, Shiga (Japan) University of Medical Sciences, Japan.
R
R
Itoh
K
K
Murata
M
M
Kamata
N
N
Mukubou
R
R
Morita
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D012447:Sacrum / Q000473:pathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000473:pathology*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions
D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA