Female, 72 years old, with low back pain. Artifact from aortic stent grafting obscures visualization of some of the upper lumbar vertebral bodies.A scoliotic curvature of the lumbar spine is demonstrated. Spinal alignment is otherwise anatomic. Within the limitations noted above, vertebral body morphology and signal characteristics are unremarkable.As on the prior exam, osseous fusion along the posterior elements is noted from the lower thoracic spine down to approximately L3 or L4.The visualized spinal cord, conus and cauda equina are unremarkable.L1-2: Unremarkable. L2-3: Unremarkable. L3-4: Facet hypertrophy and ligamentum flavum thickening. Mild bulging disc asymmetric to the left. No significant spinal canal or neuroforaminal stenosis. No interval changes. L4-5: Facet hypertrophy and ligamentum flavum thickening. Mild disc bulging asymmetric to the left with left foraminal and far lateral annular fissuring. Mild lateral recess narrowing without change. Moderate left and mild right foraminal narrowing without change. L5-S1: Facet hypertrophy and ligamentum flavum thickening. Moderate bulging disc. Moderate generalized spinal canal stenosis particularly effacement of the lateral recesses without significant change. Moderate bilateral foraminal narrowing without significant change.
Disc degeneration and posterior element hypertrophy are again seen, most severely affecting the L5-S1 level. There is a moderate generalized spinal canal stenosis and moderate bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing at this level. All findings are stable from the prior exam.