Clinical question: Disc degeneration L3-L4. Signs and symptoms: Low back pain. Nonenhanced lumbar MRI:There is normal anatomical alignment of the vertebral column.There is unremarkable signal intensity of vertebral, other than changes related to degenerative disease.T12-L1 is unremarkable.L1-L2 is unremarkable.L2-L3 is unremarkable with the exception of mild ligamentum flavum hypertrophy.L3-L4 demonstrate mild disc desiccation and loss of disc height, mild bilateral ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and facet degenerative changes. Small central shallow disc protrusion results in subtle indentation of thecal sac. Mild compromise of spinal canal however without convincing evidence of central spinal stenosis. Mild bilateral neural foraminal compromise is present. There are no prior exams for comparison.L4-5 is unremarkable with the exception of mild ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and minimal bilateral facet effusion.L5-S1 is unremarkable.Unremarkable prespinal soft tissues.
1.Mild degenerative disc disease, hypertrophic changes of posterior elements at L3-L4 level and a small central disc protrusion with resultant mild compromise of the spinal canal and bilateral neural foramina.2.Unremarkable images at other levels other than mild degenerative changes as detailed per level.