Magnetic resonance tomography in diagnosing of lumbar disk herniation

Comparative magnetic-resonance (MR) tomographic, myelographic and computerized tomographic studies are performed in 500 patients with pathological changes in the lumbar intervertebral disk. An assessment is done of the concrete MR-tomographic symptomatology by means of T-1 and T-2 characterization in cases of normal disk, disk protrusion, disk hernia, disk extrusion and disk sequestrum. Noninvasive MR-tomography unlike myelography and computerized tomography secures a direct imaging of disk herniation and its anatomical relationship to the disk proper, especially by T-2 characterization. The intervertebral foramen region is optimally examined by T-1 characterization. A reliable differentiation of postoperative epidural fibrous changes is attained by intravenous introduction of gadolinium contrast medium. 7 figs, 27 refs