[Transabdominal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to assess the value of transabdominal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of a lumbar herniated disc and to investigate the influence of the quality of the ultrasonography investigation on detection of pathological changes in lumbar intervertebral disc.


METHODS
119 patients (55 female, 64 male, mean age 41 years) were included in our study. Patients were suffering from lower back pain and were investigated by transabdominal ultrasonography, using a 3.5 MHz scanner. The results of the ultrasonography investigation were compared with MRI and intraoperative findings


RESULTS
The quality of the ultrasonography documentation shows distinct differences between the segments of the lower lumbar spine (L3/4 86.6 %, L4/5 85.7 %, L5/S1 70.6 %). The sonographic evaluations were correct in 75.4 % of cases. Sensitivity of ultrasonography for the detection of an intradiscal lesion was 0.46 for L3/4, 0.83 for L4/5 and 0.78 for L5/S1. Specificity was 0.91 for L3/4, 0.65 for L4/5 and 0.67 for L5/S1.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to MRI investigation transabdominal ultrasonography of the lumbar herniated disc proved to be distinctly inferior because of methodical limitations and lower diagnostic accuracy. This method, however, can be used as a preliminary diagnostic procedure.
Berth
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A
Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Magdeburg, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg. Alexander.Berth@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de
Mahlfeld
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K
Merk
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HR
D000005:Abdomen; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards