Two hundred and eleven patients with lumbar disc herniation at 242 levels were divided into 5 groups by their appearances on magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), and the findings at operation were compared to assess the accuracy of the MRI
classification.
There were no negative disc explorations. There was 92% sensitivity, 91% specificity and 92% accuracy for MRI in distinguishing protruded discs from other forms of lumbar disc herniation, For sequestrated discs there was a 92% sensitivity, 99%
specificity and 97% accuracy. In the extruded subligamentous type there was 71% sensitivity, 82% specificity and 70% accuracy, and 51% sensitivity, 92% specificity and 81% accuracy in the extruded transligamentous type.The overall accuracy of MRI
predicting the types of herniated lumber intervertebral disc was 85%. High resolution MRI is sensitive in detecting disc disease and specific in characterizing various subgroups of disc herniation, especially those which are sequestrated.
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