The correlation between the high-intensity zone on a T2-weighted MRI and positive outcomes of discography: a meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
This meta-analysis aimed to assess the correlation between the high-intensity zone (HIZ) of a lumbar MRI and discography.


METHODS
We conducted an electronic search of the PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and ScienceDirect databases from their respective inceptions to October 2016 using the following search terms: "low back pain," "discogenic low back pain," "HIZ or high-intensity zone," and "discography". Relevant journals and conference proceedings were manually searched. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the studies, extracted data from the included studies, and analyzed the data.


RESULTS
Eleven studies were included. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that outstanding relativity and statistically significant correlations were observed between the HIZ and abnormal disc morphology (OR = 47.79; 95% CI: 17.07 to 133.77; P < 0.00001), HIZ and pain reproduction (OR = 8.65, 95% CI: 6.01 to 15.23, P < 0.00001), and HIZ and abnormal morphology pain reproduction (OR = 11.74, 95% CI: 1.99 to 69.36, P = 0.007).


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of an HIZ on a lumbar MRI T2-weighted image indicates abnormal disc morphology. There is a strong relationship between the HIZ and pain reproduction. The HIZ can be an effective index for prediction of discogenic low back pain.
Department of Orthopedics, The First People's Hospital of Wenling, No. 190, Taiping Nan Road, Wenling, Zhejiang Province, 317500, People's Republic of China.
Chunyang
C
Fang
Department of Orthopedics, The First People's Hospital of Wenling, No. 190, Taiping Nan Road, Wenling, Zhejiang Province, 317500, People's Republic of China.
Wenbin
W
Zhang
Department of Orthopedics, The First People's Hospital of Wenling, No. 190, Taiping Nan Road, Wenling, Zhejiang Province, 317500, People's Republic of China.
Liqiu
L
Chen
Department of Orthopedics, The First People's Hospital of Wenling, No. 190, Taiping Nan Road, Wenling, Zhejiang Province, 317500, People's Republic of China. wzlihongjie@163.com.
Hongjie
H
Li
D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D011312:Pressure; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods
Discography; High-intensity zone; Low back pain; MRI; Meta-analysis