Disc degeneration can be detected by MRI and discogram, but superiority between them has been controversial by many authors.
From Marcn 1990 to July 1995, 80 discs in 53 patients complaining low back pain with or without radiating pain were studied. MRI(T2-weighted) and discogram was compared concomitantly and the results were as follows:
1. MRI grading of dsc classified by Schneiderman's criteria was ; Normal(11 discs), Intermediate(40 discs), marked(27 dises), Avsebt(2 discs), Normal signal was regarded normal disc and others were classified as degenerative disc.
2. Discogram finding was classified by Adam's criteria ; Cotton ball(10 discs), , Lobular(6 discs), irregular(40 discs), fissured(33 discs), ruptured type(18 discs), ; The cotton balland lobular types were classified as normal disc and others
asgenerativedisc.
3. five discs showed normal MRI and normal discogram and 58 discs showed degenerative MRI and degenerative discogram. So the correlation rate of MRI and discogram was 78.8%. 6discs(7.5%), showed degenerative MRI but normal discogran findings.
Eleven
discs(13.7%) showed degenerative MRI but normal discogram findings.
4. the correlation rate of MRI and discogram was 78.8%.
MRI could detect early stage of disc degeneration and useful was screening test. On the other hand, disocogram was helpful to confirm sympotomatic disc wit physiologic component, such an pain provocation.
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