CALCIFICATION DEMONSTRATED AS HIGH SIGNAL INTENSITY ON T1-WEIGHTED MR-IMAGES OF THE DISKS OF THE LUMBAR SPINE

PURPOSE: To report that calcification of lumbar disks may not show the usual low signal intensity on T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) ima ges. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors present five cases of high sig nal intensity on T1-weighted MR images of a lumbar disk that reflect t he presence of calcium deposition. RESULTS: In four cases there was co nventional radiographic confirmation and in one case there was compute d tomographic confirmation of the disk calcification, which correspond ed to the high signal intensity seen on the MR studies. One patient ha d undergone surgical removal of a partially calcified protruding disk. CONCLUSION: Lumbar disk calcification can vary in signal intensity fr om low to high on T1-weighted MR images.