title: A three-year follow-up of lumbar spine endplate (Modic) changes.
abstract: METHODS
  A longitudinal follow-up of Modic changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence and natural course Modic changes over a 3-year follow-up period.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Modic changes are bone marrow and endplate lesions visible on MRI. To the authors' knowledge, no follow-up studies on their natural course have been published.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 60 unoperated sciatica patients 23 to 76 years of age. Baseline and 3-year lumbar MR images from L1-L2 through L5-S1 were analyzed independently by 2 radiologists and a consensus reading was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, the prevalence of Modic changes was 23%. Seven discs had mixed Type I/II, and 63 Type II change. Changes typically occurred at L4-L5 and L5-S1, and associated positively with age (P = 0.009). Ten of 70 discs (14%) with Modic changes at baseline displayed another type at 3 years. Furthermore, the nonconverted changes increased significantly in size. The incidence of new Modic changes during the follow-up was 6% (13 of 230).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modic changes are common MRI findings in patients with degenerative lumbar disc disease. We found evidence that Modic Type II changes may be less stable than previously assumed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. mari.kuisma@fimnet.fi
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuisma
authors.forename: Jaro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karppinen
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niinimäki
authors.forename: Mauno
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurunlahti
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haapea
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vanharanta
authors.forename: Osmo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tervonen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012585:Sciatica / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*