HYPERINTENSE DISKS ON T1-WEIGHTED MR-IMAGES - CORRELATION WITH CALCIFICATION

PURPOSE: To determine if caleification in the intervertebral disk is a ssociated with hyperintensity on T1-weighted spin-echo magnetic resona nce (MR) images.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sagittal T1-weighted MR images that showed one or more hyperintense intervertebral disks and correlat ive computed tomographic (CT) scans, plain radiographs, or both, were obtained in 11 patients retrospectively and in 43 patients prospective ly. Six patients underwent MR imaging with a fat-suppression technique . Histologic analysis of two disks was performed. RESULTS: Absence of calcification was associated with disks that were isointense relative to normal disks (P < .001), mild to moderate calcification was associa ted with hyperintense disks (P < .001 and P = .004 [two readers]), and both mild to moderate and marked calcifications were associated with hypointense disks (P < .001). Fat suppression resulted in a decrease i n hyperintense signal in two patients. CONCLUSION: The results indicat e that hyperintensity is associated with calcification. In the absence of clinical findings that suggest other causes, hyperintense disks ar e suggestive of degenerative disk disease.