title: [Imaging in low back pain: limits and reflexions].
abstract: Lumbar imaging is frequently requested in patients with low back pain for various reasons. However, the prevalence of severe lesions, including neoplastic, is only about 1%. Imaging in the absence of clinical suspicion performs poorly. Similarly, the imagery is no more likely to identify the anatomical structures that are the source of pain for patients with low back pain. Finally, the literature shows that the impact on treatment decisions and the effect on quality of life of patients cannot justify an indiscriminate use of these investigative techniques. Without questioning the value of imaging, the practitioner must keep in mind these limitations in order to optimize the use of this resource.
authors.affiliation: Clinique de rhumatologie et Service de médecine physique et rééducation, HFR Fribourg - Hôpital cantonal, 1708 Fribourg. federico.balague@h-fr.ch
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Balagué
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dudler
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods