J Korean Soc Radiol.  2021 Jul;82(4):862-875. 10.3348/jksr.2020.0095.

The Relationship between Neural Foraminal Stenosis and Imaging Features of Lumbar Spine MRI in Patients Older Than 60 Years with Lumbar Radiculopathy

• Lee K
• Jeong HS
• Park C
• Kim M
• Ryu H
• Roh J
• Yeom JA
• Kim JH
• Kim TU
• Jeon CH

• KMID: 2518617
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2020.0095

Abstract

Purpose
To investigate the MRI features associated with neural foraminal stenosis (NFS) in patients older than 60 years with lumbar (L) radiculopathy.
Materials and Methods
This study included 133 retrospectively selected patients older than 60 years with lumbar radiculopathy who had undergone a lumbar spine MRI (from January 2018 to April 2018). For L4/L5 and L5/sacral (S)1 levels, NFS was reviewed blindly by two radiologists. Spondylolisthesis, retrolisthesis, disc height loss, disc bulging/herniation/central canal stenosis, ligamentum flavum thickening, and facet hypertrophy were evaluated separately for the NFS and non-NFS groups, and they were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses.
Results
The univariate analysis revealed that disc height loss (p = 0.006) was associated with NFS for L4/L5. For L5/S1, both spondylolisthesis (p = 0.005) and facet hypertrophy (p = 0.006) were associated with NFS. The multivariate logistic analysis revealed that disc height loss was associated with NFS for L4/L5 [odds ratio (OR) = 4.272; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.736– 10.514]. For L5/S1, spondylolisthesis (OR = 3.696; 95% CI 1.297–10.530) and facet hypertrophy (OR = 6.468; 95% CI 1.283–32.617) were associated with NFS.
Conclusion
Disc height loss was associated with NFS for L4/L5 and spondylolisthesis and facet hypertrophy were associated with NFS for L5/S1.

Keyword

Stenosis; Radiculopathy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; Spondylolisthesis