Correlation between vertebral endplate signal changes and lumbar disc degeneration on magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract EN

The nature of relationship between vertebral endplate signal changes (VESC) with lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is still relatively controversial.

Aim of study is to evaluate VESC in lumbar spine and correlate their characteristics with IVD degeneration.

MRI examinations of 60 patients (38 males, 22 females) with a total of 300 IVD were studied retrospectively.

IVD degeneration was graded according to system modified by Pfirrmann et al.

VESC were assessed regarding type, extent and depth and then correlated with grades of degeneration at affected levels.

VESC were most frequent near lumbar IVD that had advanced degeneration (43.5 % in grade IV and 39.1 % in grade V) with statistically significant association (P value < 0.05).

Higher grades of IVD degeneration showed significant association (P value < 0.05) with type II, sever extent, and grade I-II depth of VESC.

As conclusion, VESC seem to be positively related to the lumbar IVD degeneration with more severe characteristics of VESC, particularly extent, are linked to more advanced degeneration, however further clarifying studies are still recommended.