Abstract

 Back pain can result from a number of causes including degenerative and congenital spinal stenosis, infection, trauma, neoplasm and inflammatory arthritic processes. Acquired spinal stenosis due to degenerative joint and disc disease accounts for vast majority of cases. In many centers the use of myelography is steadily declining. Additionally in today’s ever changing medical economic climate the cost of imaging study requested must be considered. Taking this into account  the present study was done to assess how specific Magnetic Resonance  Myelography is, in identification of Degenerative Disc Disease of Lumbar Spine in comparision to routine MRI of lumbar spine in both axial and sagittal T1 and T2 weighted images. in the department of Radio-Diagnosis & Imaging, Mamata Medical college & Hospital, Khammam between November 2007 – October 2009 over 100patients. Out of 100,70 patients had multiple level of disc prolaps. Degenerative disease is more common in the age group of 41-51 (30%).the most common level of degenerative disease was at L4 –L5(42%) In evaluation of Diffuse Disc Bulge MR Myelography alone is  sufficient but in case of suspected intra spinal lesion Conventional MRI of spine is the gold standard technique.

Key Words: Degenerative disc disease, L4-L5,myelography, Mri.

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