Degenerative lumbar disk disease: pitfalls and usefulness of MR imaging in detection of vacuum phenomenon.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-1-1987
Abstract
Magnetic resonance (MR) images of the lumbar spine from 150 patients were retrospectively reviewed. In 14 of these patients, at 18 disk levels, a vacuum phenomenon (VP) had been identified on plain radiographs and/or computed tomographic scans. The MR imaging appearance of these gas collections in 17 disks was an area without signal, best seen on spin-echo sequences with short repetition time and echo time in the sagittal view. MR imaging precisely located the VP in the anulus fibrosus, the nucleus pulposus, and Schmorl nodes. In all but one case, degeneration of the disk was complete and associated with adjacent changes in vertebral bone. Pitfalls of MR imaging detection of VP included chemical shift artifact, calcifications, and tears without gas in the disk.
Volume
164
Issue
3
First Page
861
Last Page
865
ISSN
0033-8419
Published In/Presented At
Grenier, N., Grossman, R. I., Schiebler, M. L., Yeager, B. A., Goldberg, H. I., & Kressel, H. Y. (1987). Degenerative lumbar disk disease: pitfalls and usefulness of MR imaging in detection of vacuum phenomenon. Radiology, 164(3), 861–865. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiology.164.3.3615888
Disciplines
Diagnosis | Medicine and Health Sciences | Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment | Radiology
PubMedID
3615888
Department(s)
Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Medical Imaging
Document Type
Article