Low back pain with left sciatica for 4 months. There is an enhancing lesion in the lateral portion of the left L5-S1 neural foramen, which measures up to approximately 10 mm and impinges upon the exiting nerve root. There is also loss of fluid signal and height of the L5-S1 disc, with slight disc bulging. At L4-L5, there is a slight left foraminal disc protrusion, but no significant stenosis. There is also a minimal right facet effusion with tiny posterior punctate synovial cyst. At L3-L4, there are slight bilateral disc protrusions, but no significant spinal canal stenosis. At T12 though L3, there is no significant spinal canal or neural foraminal stenosis. The vertebral column alignment is within normal limits. The vertebral body heights are preserved. The vertebral bone marrow signal is unremarkable. The spinal cord displays normal signal and morphology. The paravertebral soft tissues are unremarkable. There is a splenule.
Lower lumbar degenerative spondylosis and a lesion in the lateral portion of the left L5-S1 neural foramen that impinges upon the exiting nerve root, which may represent requested disc material with inflammatory changes. 