title: The degenerative spine: pattern recognition and guidelines to image interpretation.
abstract: Degenerative disease of the spine, in the form of intervertebral disc degeneration and bony growth, causing osteophytes and impinging upon the spinal canal and neural foramina, is the most frequent disorder affecting the spine. In this chapter we first discuss briefly the indications for computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in suspected degenerative spine disease. We then describe changes of disc height, signal intensity, and disc contour with aging and repeated microtrauma, as well as the imaging techniques most appropriate to image them. A grading system for lumbar disc changes is provided. Stenosis of the canal and neural foramina is reviewed next, concluding with a description of degenerative changes affecting the vertebral endplates and bone marrow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital and University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: paul.parizel@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Parizel
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital and University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: A J L
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Van Hoyweghen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital and University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bali
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital and University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Goethem
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital and University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Den Hauwe
mesh_terms: D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
keywords: CT; MRI; degenerative spine disease; disc herniation; intervertebral disc; radicular pain; spinal stenosis