title: Degenerative marrow (modic) changes on cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging scans: prevalence, inter- and intra-examiner reliability and link to disc herniation.
abstract: METHODS
  A prevalence and reliability study of Modic changes (MCs) in the cervical spine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence and reliability of diagnosing and classifying MCs and their relationship to disc herniations (DHs) in the cervical spine.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Degenerative marrow (Modic) changes in the spine can be seen on MRI with some evidence linking them to pain. Many studies have been published on MCs in the lumbar spine, but only one small prevalence study focusing on MCs in the cervical spine has been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 500 patients over the age of 50 were retrospectively evaluated for the prevalence, type, and location of MCs and DHs. Two hundred of these same scans were independently analyzed by a second observer to evaluate interobserver reliability of diagnosis with 100 re-evaluated by the same observer 1 month later to assess intraobserver reliability. The SPSS program and Kappa statistics were used to assess prevalence and reliability. The risk ratio comparison of DH and MC was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred and twenty-six patients (85.2%) met the inclusion criteria. MCs were observed in 40.4% of patients (14.4% of all motion segments). A 4.3% were type 1 and 10.1% were type 2. DH were seen in 78.2% of patients (13.3% of motion segments). Both MC and DH were most frequently observed at C5/6 and C6/7. Disc extrusions were positively associated with MC (RR=2.4). The reliability showed an upper moderate interobserver (k=0.54) and an almost perfect intraobserver agreement (k=0.82).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high prevalence of MCs was observed with type 2 predominating. The C5/6 and C6/7 levels are most effected. Patients with MC are more likely to have a DH at the same level. MC type 2 predominates. The classification is reliable.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Orthopaedic University Hospital Balgrist, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Eugen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Cynthia K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Juerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hodler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology