title: Modic degenerative marrow changes in the thoracic spine : a single center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to evaluate the prevalence, types, and locations of Modic changes (MCs) in the thoracic spine in a large number of subjects, and to investigate the relation between the distributions of MCs and disc herniations (DHs) in the thoracic spine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists assessed the presence of MCs and DHs by consensus in the thoracic MRIs of 144 patients with non-specific back pain. Patient ages ranged from 22 to 88 years (mean=53.3±14.66 years), and 72 were female (50%). The prevalence, distribution, relation of MCs and DHs was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MC was observed in 8 of the 144 patients (5.6%) and 10 of 1728 segments (0.58%). The most common MC was type II. Of the 8 patients exhibiting MC, 6 had type II (75.0%), and 2 had mixed MCs (type I/II or type II/III). MCs were distributed mainly at the mid-thoracic level (from T5/6 to T9/10). DH was detected in 18 patients (12.5%), 36 of 1728 segments (2.1%). Of the 10 segments exhibiting MC, 5 had DHs at the same level (50.0%). Accordingly, DH was strongly associated with MC (p=0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A low prevalence of MC was observed in the thoracic spine, and type II MC predominated. The low prevalence of MC in the thoracic spine suggests that it was caused by a relative lack of mobility as compared with the cervical and lumbar spines. And DHs were found to be strongly associated with MCs even in the thoracic spine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Meen
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyoung Hyup
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: In Sook
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Se Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Byung Kwan
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: In Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Han
keywords: Disc herniation; Modic change; Prevalence; Thoracic spine
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