title: New Diagnostic Tool for Far Lateral Lumbar Disc Herniation : The Clinical Usefulness of 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Myelography Comparing with the Discography CT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively assess the diagnostic and clinical value of a new technique (3-tesla magnetic resonance myelography, 3T MRM) as compared to computed tomographic discography (disco-CT) in patients with far lateral disc herniation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 3T MRM and disco-CT of 25 patients, whom we suspected of suffering from far lateral disc herniation. Using an assessment scale, 4 observers examined independently both 3T MRM and disco-CT images. We analyzed observer agreement and the accentuation of each image.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found complete matching, and observer agreement, between high resolution images of 3T MRM and disco-CT for diagnosing far lateral disc herniation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We think noninvasive 3T MRM is an appropriate diagnostic tool for far lateral disc herniation as compared to disco-CT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Institute for Medical Sciences, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Duk-Gyu
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong-Pil
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Eun
authors.forename: Jung-Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Discography; Far lateral disc herniation; Magnetic resonance imaging; Myelography