Abstract

• Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) of 47 patients with surgically confirmed lumbar disk herniation at 62 levels was studied retrospectively to evaluate the significance of MRI in diagnosis of lumbar disk herniation.
  Prolapsed type of lumbar disk herniation is 47 cases(76%). lumbar disk herniation at L4-L5 level is 33 cases(53 %) and posterolateral herniation is 54 cases(87%). 6 cases(10%) of lumbar disk herniation in MRI were not matched with operative findings, due to lumbar scoliosis(4 cases) and lumbarization of S1 (2 cases). Associated abnormalities are 4 cases of Schmorl's nodule and 2 cases of spondylolisthesis, MRI shows excellent sagittal image and can differentiate extruding type of lumbar disk herniation from prolapsed type.
  The result of the study indicates the MRI is likely to become the initial procedure of choice for evaluating patients with suspected lumbar disk herniation. If clinically incompatible with MRI findings, it is desirable that CT and/or myelography are complementary to MRI study.