Spinal MRI Report

By Howard P. Hogshead, M.D.

Your Spinal MRI Report May Not Say What You
Think It Does!

When your orthopaedic surgeon refers you to have an MRI examination of your spine, the actual procedure and the films are made under the direction of a radiologist.  A radiologist is a physician who specializes in X-rays and other diagnostic tests. The radiologist then “reads” the films and prepares the report, which is for the referring physician. Usually, the radiologist has only meager clinical information. The clinician knows all the details of the history and the physical examination and all the reasons for the MRI.

When the radiologist “reads” the MRI films, many features have a description details.  In many cases the normal findings are included in the description of the report. This is sometimes called descriptive radiology. This descriptive approach does not attempt to derive a final conclusion or diagnosis. In many cases, it is left to the physician to decide what is, and what is not important. “Clinical
correlation is advised” is a term frequently used.

MRI

The Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI for short, is an elegant technology.  It details a view of the structure and the function of the spine. The vertebra and discs, as well as the spinal cord and nerves, may be shown in several modes. It is literally all there to see. The sensitivity of a good quality MRI is close to 100%. Unfortunately, it also picks up a lot of things that are not important or may be present, but irrelevant. Several  clinical trials of spinal MRI’s have shown that nearly 50% of normal patients without symptoms have abnormal findings on the MRI.(1,2) These findings include bulging and herniated discs, spinal stenosis, facet arthritis and degenerative discs. These findings increase in frequency as we age.  Conversely, patients with severe back pain may have a normal MRI.

MRI Specificity

This means that the MRI has a specificity of about 50% or in other words, there is a false positive rate of nearly 50%. A pregnancy test with 100% sensitivity, but a 50% specificity (false positive) rate would not be acceptable. Patients attempting to read the radiologist’s report of their MRI often get anxiety by the description. Individuals have come to believe that their spine has damage and that they are in imminent danger. In this belief, they may avoid activities or even leave their work to avoid further damage. This creates an avoidable and unnecessary disability. In the great majority, these findings are normal for that individual’s age group.  In other words, treatment of the back pain can be with ordinary medical care.

Back Pain

It is important to understand that the aging process in the spine begins in early adulthood.  Aging occurs in the discs, which appear darker and then begin to bulge. This process usually has nothing to do with back pain. In the majority of cases, it is not possible to accurately pinpoint the specific structure in the spine, which is causing the pain. The diagnosis of “back pain” is the most appropriate diagnosis.
In conclusion, I suggest that you ask your doctor to sit down and explain the MRI and the radiologist’s report in terms that you understand.

By Howard P. Hogshead, M.D.

References

1. Boden, S.D., et al: Abnormal magnetic resonance scans of the lumbar spine in asymtotic
subjects; a prospective investigation; Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 72: 403-415, 1990.
2. Jensen, M.C., et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in people without
back pain; New England Journal of Medicine; 331:69-73, 1994.

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