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Reliability of MRI findings for Symptomatic Extraforaminal Disc Herniation in Lumbar Spine

Kyu Pill Moon1, Kuen Tak Suh, Jung Sub Lee

  • 1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Busan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.

Asian Spine Journal
|April 21, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study found focal disc eccentricity on MRI to be the most reliable indicator for symptomatic extraforaminal disc herniation. These findings improve diagnostic accuracy for this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Radiology
  • Spine Surgery
  • Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

  • Extraforaminal disc herniation diagnosis lacks established MRI characteristics.
  • Reliable imaging findings for symptomatic extraforaminal disc herniation are not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the reliability of MRI findings in diagnosing symptomatic extraforaminal disc herniation.
  • To identify key MRI indicators for this specific type of lumbar disc herniation.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 30 patients with symptomatic extraforaminal disc herniation and 30 controls.
  • Spinal MRI evaluation for disc eccentricity, nerve root diameter change, and displacement.
  • Independent, blinded review of imaging by three spine surgeons.

Main Results:

  • Overall agreement among reviewers for diagnosing herniation was 89.4%.
  • Focal disc eccentricity was identified in 55% of cases, nerve root diameter change in 51.7%, and displacement in 38.3%.
  • High intraobserver (mean Kappa 0.833) and moderate interobserver (mean Kappa 0.667) reliability for disc eccentricity.

Conclusions:

  • Focal disc eccentricity, nerve root diameter change, and displacement are potential MRI indicators.
  • Focal disc eccentricity demonstrates the highest reliability for detecting symptomatic extraforaminal disc herniation.
Keywords:
Disc herniationExtraforaminalLumbar spineMagnetic resonance imagingReliability

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