Frequency of Abnormal Findings in Lumbar MRI in Patients Who Were Referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital with Low Back Pain

Background/Objective: This study was conducted"nto determine the frequency of abnormal findings in"nlumbar MRI in patients who were referred to Imam-"nKhomeini hospital from 2008 to 2009, mainly with"nlow back pain."nPatients and Methods: This study was a descriptiveanalytical"ncross-sectional survey among 280"nconsecutive patients who were referred to Imam-"nKhomeini hospital from 2008 to 2009 and selected by"ninclusion criteria. The data were collected by check"nlist and analized by SPSS."nResults: The mean age of the patients was 40.98 years"n(56.1% female, 43.9% male). The main findings were"n83.2% abnormal MRI findings, 72.9% disc involvement"nincluding 40.7% central, 21.1% right and 36.3% left"nside, 25.75% bulging, 62.85% protrusion mainly"nat L4-L5 (central location) more than L5-S1 (left"nparacentral), 11.05% extrusion and finally 0.35% had"nsequestration. 6.1% had osteophyte formation mainly"nat L4-L5, 10% listhesis mainly at L5-S1, 5.4% ligament"nflavum hypertrophy mainly at L4-L5 level and 4.6%"nmodic changes. The correlation between gender and"nage with the findings were analyzed."nConclusion: Totally it may be concluded that central"nprotrusion is the most common finding in MRI (mainly"nat L4-L5 level). Disc involvement at L2-L3 in women"nand stenosis due to disc herniation at L5-S1 in men"nhad significant correlation with gender and finally disc"ninvolvement was more common after 40 years."nKeywords: MRI, Lumbar, Abnormal Findings,"nFrequency