J Korean Radiol Soc.  1986 Apr;22(2):199-205. 10.3348/jkrs.1986.22.2.199.

Lumbar CT findings of patients with low back pain

• Lee YC
• Kim YS
• Kim KS

• KMID: 2462352
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1986.22.2.199

Abstract

Low back pain is probable the second most common disease entity to upper respiratory infection in developedconuntry. We were missing at least 50% of the pathologic conditions by using conventional diagnostic modalities inlow back pain. They did tell us nothing or little about facet abnormalities, lateral recesses, vertebral canal andsoft tissues surrounding lumbar spines. High resolutional CT has been the biggest turning point in the diagnosisand management of low back pain. CT make a contribution to reducing the morbidity and probable the cost ofevaluating patiens with low baack pain, and to increasing diagnostic accuracy. We observed 100 cases of lumbar CTusing TCT 80A scanner for the evaluation of low back pain during the period from Apr. 1985 to Sept. 1985 atChung-Ang University Hospital. Lumbar CT scan reveals high-positive findings(98%) in low back pain patients.Common low back disorders in CT are disc bulging(53%), herniated nucleus pulposus(32%), degenerative arthritis inposterior facet joints (27%), spinal stensosis(20%) and postoperative spines(15%). Uncommon low back disorders inCT are compression fracture of verebral bodies, spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis, tropism, transitionalvertebra, Scheuerman's disease, limbic fracture, transverse process or articular process fracture, sacroiliacjoint subluxation, conjoined nerve root and meningocele.

MeSH Terms

Back Pain
Fractures, Compression
Humans
Low Back Pain*
Meningocele
Osteoarthritis
Spine
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolysis
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Tropism
Zygapophyseal Joint