Clinical question: Evaluate for disk disease. Signs and symptoms: Pain. Nonenhanced lumbar MRI:There is normal anatomic alignment the vertebral column.There is unremarkable 6 months in situ column.T2 -- L1 is unremarkable.L1 -- L2 is unremarkable.L2 -- L3 is unremarkable.L3 -- L4 demonstrate mild disk desiccation and mild bilateral ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. No spinal stenosis or neural foraminal compromise.L4 -- L5 demonstrate mild disk desiccation and moderate bilateral ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and mild facet disease. No spinal stenosis or neural foraminal compromise.L5 -- S1 demonstrate mild disk disease and loss of disk height, moderate bilateral ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and mild facet (left greater than right) degenerative disease and hypertrophy. There is a central and left lateral disk protrusion with resultant left lateral recess compromise and without spinal stenosis or neural foraminal compromise.
1.A central and leftward disk protrusion at L5 -- S1 results in left lateral recess compromise without spinal stenosis or neural foraminal compromise.2.Mild degenerative changes at other levels without spinal stenosis or neural foraminal compromise as detailed per level above.