THE RADIOLOGIC ASSESSMENT FOR A LUMBAR DISC HERNIATION

With magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, there now are two excellent diagnostic imaging modalities to detect noninvasively t he presence of lumbar disc abnormalities and to follow the natural his tory of pathologic changes of a disc, with or without therapeutic inte rventions. The clinical significance of the information provided by th ese two imaging methods can be determined only by precise correlation of the results of a magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography study to a patient's history, physical examination, and other diagnost ic tests. With controlled prospective clinical studies, it may be poss ible to learn what type of abnormal changes detected on a magnetic res onance imaging or computed tomography study may have prognostic value in predicting patient outcome.