title: Lumbar modic changes-a comparison between findings at low- and high-field magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: METHODS
  A cross-sectional observational study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether there is a difference in findings of lumbar Modic changes in low-field (0.3 T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared with high-field (1.5 T).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  It is a challenge to give patients with low back pain a specific diagnosis. Modic changes as seen on MRI have been reported to be a possible source of pain. However, it is unclear whether the diagnosis is independent on the field strength.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with Modic changes, 11 women and 9 men (mean age, 53.6 yr; range, 29-81 yr), with or without sciatica, seen in a Danish outpatient low back pain clinic were included. All patients obtained MRI scans on both a high-field and a low-field MRI scanner. Two radiologists evaluated all lumbar endplates independently, using a standardized evaluation protocol. Kappa statistics were used to analyze the interobserver reproducibility. We used paired t test to analyze the difference between low- and high-field MRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total number of Modic changes diagnosed with high-field MRI was significantly higher than that with low-field MRI. However, 3 to 4 times as many Modic type 1 changes were found with low-field MRI compared with high-field MRI. Contrarily, with high-field MRI type 2 changes were diagnosed twice as often.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a significant difference between low- and high-field MRI regarding the overall prevalence of any Modic change, but this had opposite directions for types 1 and 2: type 2 dominated in high field and conversely in high field [corrected]. The type of MRI unit should be taken into consideration when diagnosing patients with Modic changes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. tben0024@regionh.dk
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bendix
authors.forename: Joan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.forename: Gustaf A C
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Henriksson
authors.forename: Jørn Espen
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bolstad
authors.forename: Eva K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Narvestad
authors.forename: Tue S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012585:Sciatica / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity