Abstract
Study design
A cross-sectional observational study.
Objective
To investigate if there is a difference in findings of lumbar Modic changes in low-field (0.3 Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as compared to high field (1.5 Tesla).
Summary of background data
It is a challenge to give patients with low back pain (LBP) a specific diagnosis. Modic changes as seen on MRI have been reported to be a possible source of pain. However, it is unclear if the diagnosis is independent on the field strength.
Methods
Twenty patients with Modic changes, 11 women and 9 men (mean age 53.6, range 29-81), with or without sciatica, seen in a Danish outpatient LBP clinic were included. All patients had MRI scans on both a high-field and a low-field MRI scanner. Two radiologists evaluated all lumbar endplates independently using a standardized evaluation protocol. Kappa statistics were used to analyze the inter-observer reproducibility. To analyze the difference between low- and high-field MRI we used paired t-test.
Results
The total number of Modic changes diagnosed with high-field MRI was significantly higher as compared to low-field MRI. However, 3-4 times as many Modic type 1 changes were found with low-field MRI as compared to high-field. Contrarily, with high-field MRI type 2 changes were diagnosed twice as often.
Conclusion
There was a significant difference between low- and high-field MRI regarding the overall prevalence of any Modic change, but this had opposite directions for type 1 and 2: Type 2 dominated in low field, and conversely in high field. The type of MRI unit should be taken into consideration when diagnosing patients with Modic changes.
A cross-sectional observational study.
Objective
To investigate if there is a difference in findings of lumbar Modic changes in low-field (0.3 Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as compared to high field (1.5 Tesla).
Summary of background data
It is a challenge to give patients with low back pain (LBP) a specific diagnosis. Modic changes as seen on MRI have been reported to be a possible source of pain. However, it is unclear if the diagnosis is independent on the field strength.
Methods
Twenty patients with Modic changes, 11 women and 9 men (mean age 53.6, range 29-81), with or without sciatica, seen in a Danish outpatient LBP clinic were included. All patients had MRI scans on both a high-field and a low-field MRI scanner. Two radiologists evaluated all lumbar endplates independently using a standardized evaluation protocol. Kappa statistics were used to analyze the inter-observer reproducibility. To analyze the difference between low- and high-field MRI we used paired t-test.
Results
The total number of Modic changes diagnosed with high-field MRI was significantly higher as compared to low-field MRI. However, 3-4 times as many Modic type 1 changes were found with low-field MRI as compared to high-field. Contrarily, with high-field MRI type 2 changes were diagnosed twice as often.
Conclusion
There was a significant difference between low- and high-field MRI regarding the overall prevalence of any Modic change, but this had opposite directions for type 1 and 2: Type 2 dominated in low field, and conversely in high field. The type of MRI unit should be taken into consideration when diagnosing patients with Modic changes.
| Bidragets oversatte titel | Lumbale modic forandringer- en sammenligning mellem fund ved lav og høj felt MRI |
|---|---|
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
| Tidsskrift | Spine (Philadelphia, 1976) |
| Vol/bind | 37 |
| Udgave nummer | 20 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 1756–1762 |
| ISSN | 0362-2436 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - 2012 |