Bookmarks
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Pathology
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Synonyms
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD), disc degeneration, spondylosis
Definitions
- Generalized and multifactorial process affecting discovertebral unit leading to biomechanical/morphologic alterations
- Asymptomatic or associated with back/neck pain ± radiculopathy
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
Fluoroscopic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Nonvascular Interventions
Nuclear Medicine Findings
Other Modality Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
- Battié MC et al: Degenerative disc disease: what is in a name? Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 44(21):1523-9, 2019
- Yoshihara H et al: National trends in the surgical treatment for lumbar degenerative disc disease: United States, 2000 to 2009. Spine J. 15(2):265-71, 2015
- Jacobs WC et al: The evidence on surgical interventions for low back disorders, an overview of systematic reviews. Eur Spine J. 22(9):1936-49, 2013
- Kauppila LI: Atherosclerosis and disc degeneration/low-back pain--a systematic review. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 37(6):661-70, 2009
- Hadjipavlou AG et al: The pathophysiology of disc degeneration: a critical review. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 90(10):1261-70, 2008
- Jandial R et al: Stem cell-mediated regeneration of the intervertebral disc: cellular and molecular challenge. Neurosurg Focus. 24(3-4):E21, 2008
- Walker J 3rd et al: Discography in practice: a clinical and historical review. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 1(2):69-83, 2008
- Modic MT et al: Lumbar degenerative disk disease. Radiology. 245(1):43-61, 2007
- Tow BP et al: Disc regeneration: a glimpse of the future. Clin Neurosurg. 54:122-8, 2007
- Urban JP et al: Pathophysiology of the intervertebral disc and the challenges for MRI. J Magn Reson Imaging. 25(2):419-32, 2007
- Boos N et al: Classification of age-related changes in lumbar intervertebral discs: 2002 Volvo Award in basic science. Spine. 27(23):2631-44, 2002
- Moore KR et al: Degenerative disc disease treated with combined anterior and posterior arthrodesis and posterior instrumentation. Spine. 27(15):1680-6, 2002
- Frobin W et al: Height of lumbar discs measured from radiographs compared with degeneration and height classified from MR images. Eur Radiol. 11(2):263-9, 2001
- Pfirrmann CW et al: Magnetic resonance classification of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration. Spine. 26(17):1873-8, 2001
- Weishaupt D et al: Painful lumbar disk derangement: relevance of endplate abnormalities at MR imaging. Radiology. 218(2):420-7, 2001
- Beattie PF et al: Associations between patient report of symptoms and anatomic impairment visible on lumbar magnetic resonance imaging. Spine. 25(7):819-28, 2000
- Luoma K et al: Low back pain in relation to lumbar disc degeneration. Spine. 25(4):487-92, 2000
- Jensen MC et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in people without back pain. N Engl J Med. 331(2):69-73, 1994
- Modic MT et al: Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of low back pain. Orthop Clin North Am. 22(2):283-301, 1991
- Modic MT et al: Degenerative disk disease: assessment of changes in vertebral body marrow with MR imaging. Radiology. 166(1 Pt 1):193-9, 1988
Related Anatomy
Loading...
Related Differential Diagnoses
Loading...
References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Pathology
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Synonyms
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD), disc degeneration, spondylosis
Definitions
- Generalized and multifactorial process affecting discovertebral unit leading to biomechanical/morphologic alterations
- Asymptomatic or associated with back/neck pain ± radiculopathy
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
Fluoroscopic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Nonvascular Interventions
Nuclear Medicine Findings
Other Modality Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
- Battié MC et al: Degenerative disc disease: what is in a name? Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 44(21):1523-9, 2019
- Yoshihara H et al: National trends in the surgical treatment for lumbar degenerative disc disease: United States, 2000 to 2009. Spine J. 15(2):265-71, 2015
- Jacobs WC et al: The evidence on surgical interventions for low back disorders, an overview of systematic reviews. Eur Spine J. 22(9):1936-49, 2013
- Kauppila LI: Atherosclerosis and disc degeneration/low-back pain--a systematic review. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 37(6):661-70, 2009
- Hadjipavlou AG et al: The pathophysiology of disc degeneration: a critical review. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 90(10):1261-70, 2008
- Jandial R et al: Stem cell-mediated regeneration of the intervertebral disc: cellular and molecular challenge. Neurosurg Focus. 24(3-4):E21, 2008
- Walker J 3rd et al: Discography in practice: a clinical and historical review. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 1(2):69-83, 2008
- Modic MT et al: Lumbar degenerative disk disease. Radiology. 245(1):43-61, 2007
- Tow BP et al: Disc regeneration: a glimpse of the future. Clin Neurosurg. 54:122-8, 2007
- Urban JP et al: Pathophysiology of the intervertebral disc and the challenges for MRI. J Magn Reson Imaging. 25(2):419-32, 2007
- Boos N et al: Classification of age-related changes in lumbar intervertebral discs: 2002 Volvo Award in basic science. Spine. 27(23):2631-44, 2002
- Moore KR et al: Degenerative disc disease treated with combined anterior and posterior arthrodesis and posterior instrumentation. Spine. 27(15):1680-6, 2002
- Frobin W et al: Height of lumbar discs measured from radiographs compared with degeneration and height classified from MR images. Eur Radiol. 11(2):263-9, 2001
- Pfirrmann CW et al: Magnetic resonance classification of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration. Spine. 26(17):1873-8, 2001
- Weishaupt D et al: Painful lumbar disk derangement: relevance of endplate abnormalities at MR imaging. Radiology. 218(2):420-7, 2001
- Beattie PF et al: Associations between patient report of symptoms and anatomic impairment visible on lumbar magnetic resonance imaging. Spine. 25(7):819-28, 2000
- Luoma K et al: Low back pain in relation to lumbar disc degeneration. Spine. 25(4):487-92, 2000
- Jensen MC et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in people without back pain. N Engl J Med. 331(2):69-73, 1994
- Modic MT et al: Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of low back pain. Orthop Clin North Am. 22(2):283-301, 1991
- Modic MT et al: Degenerative disk disease: assessment of changes in vertebral body marrow with MR imaging. Radiology. 166(1 Pt 1):193-9, 1988
