Decision Making in Degenerative Lumbar Spine : CT vs. MRI

- There is 266 million individuals (3.63%) worldwide have DSD and LBP each year; the highest and lowest estimated incidences were found in Europe (5.7%) and Africa (2.4%), respectively. Based on population sizes, low- and middle-income countries have 4 times as many cases as high-income countries. Thirty-nine million individuals (0.53%) worldwide were found to have Spondylolisthesis, 403 million (5.5%) individuals worldwide with symptomatic disc degeneration, and 103 million (1.41%) individuals worldwide with spinal stenosis annually.

- Degenerative disease of the lumbar spine is a significant cause of disability in the world; it encompasses conditions such as Spondylolisthesis, disc degeneration, and lumbar spinal stenosis. Associated with a variety of clinical symptoms, including lower extremity pain, weakness, and low back pain (LBP) of varying levels of severity.

- Imaging plays an important role in the evaluation of degenerative spine.

- Plain films still play an important role in evaluation of the spine, because the examination is inexpensive and available and gives a wide panoramic view of the spine. Direct information about bony structures can be obtained, and functional information about misalignment and vertebral stability can be obtained with upright dynamic films in flexion-extension and lateral bending.

- Computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan: CT scan shows soft tissues such as ligaments and muscles more clearly than traditional X-rays do, so it is more useful for diagnosing certain problems, such as ruptured or degenerated discs and spinal stenosis.

- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): The advantage of MRI scans over X-rays and CT scans is that MRI provides clear, detailed images of the soft-tissue structures, such as the muscles, cartilage, ligaments, discs, tendons and blood vessels, in addition to the bones.