Association between findings of provocative discography and vertebral endplate signal changes as seen on MRI

Provocative discography is a controversial diagnostic tool for pathologic d ies. Modic has identified vertebral endplate signal changes on magnetic res onance imaging (MRI) that are thought to signify advanced discogenic degene ration. These two distinct diagnostic tools are examined to determine if th ere is association between them. Fifty-three consecutive patients who under went both investigations were retrospectively reviewed. In discs that had n egative T1 MRI findings, 28.2% of patients had concordant pain and 17.3% ha d discordant pain. In discs with positive T1 MRI findings, 34.8% of patient s had concordant pain and 17.38 had discordant pain. 79.5% and 74.4% of lev els with patient concordant pain on discography had no endplate changes on T1- and T2-weighted MR images. respectively (compared with 84.5% and 81.7%, respectively, for levels with no patient pain on discography). Our data sh owed no significant relationship between these distinct diagnostic tools. F urther investigation of their relative roles in this application is recomme nded.