Downloads & Free Reading Options - Results

This article is from Asian Spine Journal , volume 6 . Abstract Study Design: A prospective study. Purpose: To Investigate the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes of the lumbar spine in low back pain (LBP) and the associated risk factors in young Arab population. Overview of Literature: Studies on the prevalence of MRI findings and their relationship with LBP have been conducted; these have occurred in adult populations in developed countries. The prevalence of MRI changes in the young Arab population with LBP is not known. Methods: Two hundred and fourteen patients of Arab origin in the 16 to 29 year age group with LBP symptoms underwent MRI examinations. The prevalence of MRI changes in the lumbar spine and associated risk factors were determined and compared to age, race, and gender-matched controls. Results: A majority (64%) of the patients with LBP (138 out of 214) were found to have MRI evidence of degenerative disc disease (DD) compared to 10% (22 out of 214) in the control group. The majority (61%) of patients had multiple level disease, most commonly involving the lowest 2 disc levels. Reduced signal of the disc followed by disc bulge was the most common MRI features seen in the symptomatic subjects. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities, while activity demonstrated a positive trend. Conclusions: The MRI prevalence of DD among the young Arab patients with LBP is high when compared to other reports in literature. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities while activity demonstrated a positive trend.

This article is from Asian Spine Journal , volume 6 . Abstract Study Design: A prospective study. Purpose: To Investigate the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes of the lumbar spine in low back pain (LBP) and the associated risk factors in young Arab population. Overview of Literature: Studies on the prevalence of MRI findings and their relationship with LBP have been conducted; these have occurred in adult populations in developed countries. The prevalence of MRI changes in the young Arab population with LBP is not known. Methods: Two hundred and fourteen patients of Arab origin in the 16 to 29 year age group with LBP symptoms underwent MRI examinations. The prevalence of MRI changes in the lumbar spine and associated risk factors were determined and compared to age, race, and gender-matched controls. Results: A majority (64%) of the patients with LBP (138 out of 214) were found to have MRI evidence of degenerative disc disease (DD) compared to 10% (22 out of 214) in the control group. The majority (61%) of patients had multiple level disease, most commonly involving the lowest 2 disc levels. Reduced signal of the disc followed by disc bulge was the most common MRI features seen in the symptomatic subjects. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities, while activity demonstrated a positive trend. Conclusions: The MRI prevalence of DD among the young Arab patients with LBP is high when compared to other reports in literature. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities while activity demonstrated a positive trend.

This article is from Asian Spine Journal , volume 6 . Abstract Study Design: A prospective study. Purpose: To Investigate the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes of the lumbar spine in low back pain (LBP) and the associated risk factors in young Arab population. Overview of Literature: Studies on the prevalence of MRI findings and their relationship with LBP have been conducted; these have occurred in adult populations in developed countries. The prevalence of MRI changes in the young Arab population with LBP is not known. Methods: Two hundred and fourteen patients of Arab origin in the 16 to 29 year age group with LBP symptoms underwent MRI examinations. The prevalence of MRI changes in the lumbar spine and associated risk factors were determined and compared to age, race, and gender-matched controls. Results: A majority (64%) of the patients with LBP (138 out of 214) were found to have MRI evidence of degenerative disc disease (DD) compared to 10% (22 out of 214) in the control group. The majority (61%) of patients had multiple level disease, most commonly involving the lowest 2 disc levels. Reduced signal of the disc followed by disc bulge was the most common MRI features seen in the symptomatic subjects. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities, while activity demonstrated a positive trend. Conclusions: The MRI prevalence of DD among the young Arab patients with LBP is high when compared to other reports in literature. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities while activity demonstrated a positive trend.

This article is from Asian Spine Journal , volume 6 . Abstract Study Design: A prospective study. Purpose: To Investigate the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes of the lumbar spine in low back pain (LBP) and the associated risk factors in young Arab population. Overview of Literature: Studies on the prevalence of MRI findings and their relationship with LBP have been conducted; these have occurred in adult populations in developed countries. The prevalence of MRI changes in the young Arab population with LBP is not known. Methods: Two hundred and fourteen patients of Arab origin in the 16 to 29 year age group with LBP symptoms underwent MRI examinations. The prevalence of MRI changes in the lumbar spine and associated risk factors were determined and compared to age, race, and gender-matched controls. Results: A majority (64%) of the patients with LBP (138 out of 214) were found to have MRI evidence of degenerative disc disease (DD) compared to 10% (22 out of 214) in the control group. The majority (61%) of patients had multiple level disease, most commonly involving the lowest 2 disc levels. Reduced signal of the disc followed by disc bulge was the most common MRI features seen in the symptomatic subjects. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities, while activity demonstrated a positive trend. Conclusions: The MRI prevalence of DD among the young Arab patients with LBP is high when compared to other reports in literature. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities while activity demonstrated a positive trend.

This article is from Asian Spine Journal , volume 6 . Abstract Study Design: A prospective study. Purpose: To Investigate the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes of the lumbar spine in low back pain (LBP) and the associated risk factors in young Arab population. Overview of Literature: Studies on the prevalence of MRI findings and their relationship with LBP have been conducted; these have occurred in adult populations in developed countries. The prevalence of MRI changes in the young Arab population with LBP is not known. Methods: Two hundred and fourteen patients of Arab origin in the 16 to 29 year age group with LBP symptoms underwent MRI examinations. The prevalence of MRI changes in the lumbar spine and associated risk factors were determined and compared to age, race, and gender-matched controls. Results: A majority (64%) of the patients with LBP (138 out of 214) were found to have MRI evidence of degenerative disc disease (DD) compared to 10% (22 out of 214) in the control group. The majority (61%) of patients had multiple level disease, most commonly involving the lowest 2 disc levels. Reduced signal of the disc followed by disc bulge was the most common MRI features seen in the symptomatic subjects. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities, while activity demonstrated a positive trend. Conclusions: The MRI prevalence of DD among the young Arab patients with LBP is high when compared to other reports in literature. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities while activity demonstrated a positive trend.

This article is from Asian Spine Journal , volume 6 . Abstract Study Design: A prospective study. Purpose: To Investigate the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes of the lumbar spine in low back pain (LBP) and the associated risk factors in young Arab population. Overview of Literature: Studies on the prevalence of MRI findings and their relationship with LBP have been conducted; these have occurred in adult populations in developed countries. The prevalence of MRI changes in the young Arab population with LBP is not known. Methods: Two hundred and fourteen patients of Arab origin in the 16 to 29 year age group with LBP symptoms underwent MRI examinations. The prevalence of MRI changes in the lumbar spine and associated risk factors were determined and compared to age, race, and gender-matched controls. Results: A majority (64%) of the patients with LBP (138 out of 214) were found to have MRI evidence of degenerative disc disease (DD) compared to 10% (22 out of 214) in the control group. The majority (61%) of patients had multiple level disease, most commonly involving the lowest 2 disc levels. Reduced signal of the disc followed by disc bulge was the most common MRI features seen in the symptomatic subjects. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities, while activity demonstrated a positive trend. Conclusions: The MRI prevalence of DD among the young Arab patients with LBP is high when compared to other reports in literature. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities while activity demonstrated a positive trend.

This article is from Asian Spine Journal , volume 6 . Abstract Study Design: A prospective study. Purpose: To Investigate the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes of the lumbar spine in low back pain (LBP) and the associated risk factors in young Arab population. Overview of Literature: Studies on the prevalence of MRI findings and their relationship with LBP have been conducted; these have occurred in adult populations in developed countries. The prevalence of MRI changes in the young Arab population with LBP is not known. Methods: Two hundred and fourteen patients of Arab origin in the 16 to 29 year age group with LBP symptoms underwent MRI examinations. The prevalence of MRI changes in the lumbar spine and associated risk factors were determined and compared to age, race, and gender-matched controls. Results: A majority (64%) of the patients with LBP (138 out of 214) were found to have MRI evidence of degenerative disc disease (DD) compared to 10% (22 out of 214) in the control group. The majority (61%) of patients had multiple level disease, most commonly involving the lowest 2 disc levels. Reduced signal of the disc followed by disc bulge was the most common MRI features seen in the symptomatic subjects. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities, while activity demonstrated a positive trend. Conclusions: The MRI prevalence of DD among the young Arab patients with LBP is high when compared to other reports in literature. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities while activity demonstrated a positive trend.

This article is from Asian Spine Journal , volume 6 . Abstract Study Design: A prospective study. Purpose: To Investigate the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes of the lumbar spine in low back pain (LBP) and the associated risk factors in young Arab population. Overview of Literature: Studies on the prevalence of MRI findings and their relationship with LBP have been conducted; these have occurred in adult populations in developed countries. The prevalence of MRI changes in the young Arab population with LBP is not known. Methods: Two hundred and fourteen patients of Arab origin in the 16 to 29 year age group with LBP symptoms underwent MRI examinations. The prevalence of MRI changes in the lumbar spine and associated risk factors were determined and compared to age, race, and gender-matched controls. Results: A majority (64%) of the patients with LBP (138 out of 214) were found to have MRI evidence of degenerative disc disease (DD) compared to 10% (22 out of 214) in the control group. The majority (61%) of patients had multiple level disease, most commonly involving the lowest 2 disc levels. Reduced signal of the disc followed by disc bulge was the most common MRI features seen in the symptomatic subjects. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities, while activity demonstrated a positive trend. Conclusions: The MRI prevalence of DD among the young Arab patients with LBP is high when compared to other reports in literature. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities while activity demonstrated a positive trend.

This article is from Asian Spine Journal , volume 6 . Abstract Study Design: A prospective study. Purpose: To Investigate the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes of the lumbar spine in low back pain (LBP) and the associated risk factors in young Arab population. Overview of Literature: Studies on the prevalence of MRI findings and their relationship with LBP have been conducted; these have occurred in adult populations in developed countries. The prevalence of MRI changes in the young Arab population with LBP is not known. Methods: Two hundred and fourteen patients of Arab origin in the 16 to 29 year age group with LBP symptoms underwent MRI examinations. The prevalence of MRI changes in the lumbar spine and associated risk factors were determined and compared to age, race, and gender-matched controls. Results: A majority (64%) of the patients with LBP (138 out of 214) were found to have MRI evidence of degenerative disc disease (DD) compared to 10% (22 out of 214) in the control group. The majority (61%) of patients had multiple level disease, most commonly involving the lowest 2 disc levels. Reduced signal of the disc followed by disc bulge was the most common MRI features seen in the symptomatic subjects. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities, while activity demonstrated a positive trend. Conclusions: The MRI prevalence of DD among the young Arab patients with LBP is high when compared to other reports in literature. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities while activity demonstrated a positive trend.

Globaly imaging for lower back pain has increased over the last decades, especially the use of MRI. This trend is true for Sweden as well. A previous study by Wnuk et. al. found that 13% percent of outpatient MRI´s of the lower back had actionable findings. With a rather high rate of false positive findings. The rate of actionable findings in a Swedish context is unkown thus we intend to replicate the study done by Wnuk et al. but in a Swedish setting. Methods This study is a retrospective cohort study of lumbar spine MR imaging. The study is descriptive in nature. Simple descriptive statistics will be used to summarize data. Two reviewers will independently go through radiological reports and patient journals manually to note findings and whether they led to a change of treatment or new diagnoses. In the case of disagreement a third senior reviewer will be used to settle the case. Independent manual assessment will be used instead of automatic text search engine in order to mitigate risk of over or under-assessing any of the study endpoints. The outcomes of the study are "actionable exams", "potentially harmful findings" and appropiateness as descriped below. Actionable exams: Examinations will be classified as either “actionable,” or “non-actionable” using the definitions created by Wnuk et. al. An examination could satisfy more than one set of criteria but would contribute only once to the overall total of actionable examinations. An actionable examination is one which either: 1. Contributes to planning of an anatomically specific treatment; 2. Contributes to a new diagnosis of fracture, cancer or infection; 3. Is performed to follow known lumbar spine pathology (other than degenerative conditions). Examinations that do not meet any of the three criteria are classified as non-actionable. Anatomically specific treatment: An examination is classified as actionable if a spine procedure occurred within 12 months following the examination, without an intervening lumbar spine MRI, for which the anatomical imaging information might be used in planning. Procedures considered included laminectomy, foraminotomy, resection, drainage, decompression, discectomy, vertebral fusion, vertebroplasty and radiation therapy performed at spinal levels from T12 through S1, inclusive. Furthermore we will also note less invasive treatments (nerve root block, facet joint injection,) and of more doubtful efficacy. They will be presented in aggregate and separate. Contribution to a new diagnosis: New diagnoses of cancer, infection, acute fracture of the spine or other clinically significant disease requiring treatment. For all positive reports, clinical notes will be examined up to one year following the examination. A finding will be considered a “true positive” if confirmed by subsequent imaging, blood tests or biopsy, or if treatment was initiated based on the imaging findings. Treatment might include surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer, and treatment with antibiotics or drainage for infection. A finding will also considered a true positive if accepted as real by the clinician as indicated in the clinical chart. False positives (see below) were considered as harmful. Following a known condition: Examinations are classified as actionable if they are used to follow known condition (other than degenerative disease). Potentially harmful: When the suggestion of cancer or infection raised in the report is not substantiated by subsequent events the finding was considered a “false positive,” and the examination is classified as potentially harmful since it may lead to further evaluations, incorrect treatment and/or patient anxiety. Appropriateness: While not formally used in our setting we asses this in a smaller random sample in order to benchmark our referrals to the findings in the previous study by Wnuk et al. Appropriateness scores, based on ACR criteria, from 1-9 will be assessed based on information given in the referrals. Study population: Outpatient adult lumbar spine MRI performed in Skane county between 20220101 and 20230101. Imaging protocols vary to some extent but generally include sagittal T1 and T2 weighted images covering the lower thoracic spine through the sacrum. Usually there is also a coronal T2 TIRM sequence covering the whole abdomen and pelvis. Exams were performed on either 1.5 or 3.0 Tesla and interpreted by radiologists of varying training and subspecialty, some by musculoskeletal radiologists or neuroradiologists. Exams were read at non-academic institutions. Demographic information, indications for the study, and appropriateness scores will be obtained from the radiology information system(PACS). Examinations will be excluded if they were incomplete or if the patient is younger than 18 years of age.

Globaly imaging for lower back pain has increased over the last decades, especially the use of MRI. This trend is true for Sweden as well. A previous study by Wnuk et. al. found that 13% percent of outpatient MRI´s of the lower back had actionable findings. With a rather high rate of false positive findings. The rate of actionable findings in a Swedish context is unkown thus we intend to replicate the study done by Wnuk et al. but in a Swedish setting. Methods This study is a retrospective cohort study of lumbar spine MR imaging. The study is descriptive in nature. Simple descriptive statistics will be used to summarize data. Two reviewers will independently go through radiological reports and patient journals manually to note findings and whether they led to a change of treatment or new diagnoses. In the case of disagreement a third senior reviewer will be used to settle the case. Independent manual assessment will be used instead of automatic text search engine in order to mitigate risk of over or under-assessing any of the study endpoints. The outcomes of the study are "actionable exams", "potentially harmful findings" and appropiateness as descriped below. Actionable exams: Examinations will be classified as either “actionable,” or “non-actionable” using the definitions created by Wnuk et. al. An examination could satisfy more than one set of criteria but would contribute only once to the overall total of actionable examinations. An actionable examination is one which either: 1. Contributes to planning of an anatomically specific treatment; 2. Contributes to a new diagnosis of fracture, cancer or infection; 3. Is performed to follow known lumbar spine pathology (other than degenerative conditions). Examinations that do not meet any of the three criteria are classified as non-actionable. Anatomically specific treatment: An examination is classified as actionable if a spine procedure occurred within 12 months following the examination, without an intervening lumbar spine MRI, for which the anatomical imaging information might be used in planning. Procedures considered included laminectomy, foraminotomy, resection, drainage, decompression, discectomy, vertebral fusion, vertebroplasty and radiation therapy performed at spinal levels from T12 through S1, inclusive. Furthermore we will also note less invasive treatments (nerve root block, facet joint injection,) and of more doubtful efficacy. They will be presented in aggregate and separate. Contribution to a new diagnosis: New diagnoses of cancer, infection, acute fracture of the spine or other clinically significant disease requiring treatment. For all positive reports, clinical notes will be examined up to one year following the examination. A finding will be considered a “true positive” if confirmed by subsequent imaging, blood tests or biopsy, or if treatment was initiated based on the imaging findings. Treatment might include surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer, and treatment with antibiotics or drainage for infection. A finding will also considered a true positive if accepted as real by the clinician as indicated in the clinical chart. False positives (see below) were considered as harmful. Following a known condition: Examinations are classified as actionable if they are used to follow known condition (other than degenerative disease). Potentially harmful: When the suggestion of cancer or infection raised in the report is not substantiated by subsequent events the finding was considered a “false positive,” and the examination is classified as potentially harmful since it may lead to further evaluations, incorrect treatment and/or patient anxiety. Appropriateness: While not formally used in our setting we asses this in a smaller random sample in order to benchmark our referrals to the findings in the previous study by Wnuk et al. Appropriateness scores, based on ACR criteria, from 1-9 will be assessed based on information given in the referrals. Study population: Outpatient adult lumbar spine MRI performed in Skane county between 20220101 and 20230101. Imaging protocols vary to some extent but generally include sagittal T1 and T2 weighted images covering the lower thoracic spine through the sacrum. Usually there is also a coronal T2 TIRM sequence covering the whole abdomen and pelvis. Exams were performed on either 1.5 or 3.0 Tesla and interpreted by radiologists of varying training and subspecialty, some by musculoskeletal radiologists or neuroradiologists. Exams were read at non-academic institutions. Demographic information, indications for the study, and appropriateness scores will be obtained from the radiology information system(PACS). Examinations will be excluded if they were incomplete or if the patient is younger than 18 years of age.

This article is from PLoS ONE , volume 8 . Abstract Background: The purpose of the present study was to compare the image quality of spinal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performed on a high-field horizontal open versus a short-bore MR scanner in a randomized controlled study setup. Methods: Altogether, 93 (80% women, mean age 53) consecutive patients underwent spine imaging after random assignement to a 1-T horizontal open MR scanner with a vertical magnetic field or a 1.5-T short-bore MR scanner. This patient subset was part of a larger cohort. Image quality was assessed by determining qualitative parameters, signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR), and quantitative contour sharpness. Results: The image quality parameters were higher for short-bore MR imaging. Regarding all sequences, the relative differences were 39% for the mean overall qualitative image quality, 53% for the mean SNR values, and 34–37% for the quantitative contour sharpness (P

This article is from PLoS ONE , volume 8 . Abstract Background: The purpose of the present study was to compare the image quality of spinal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performed on a high-field horizontal open versus a short-bore MR scanner in a randomized controlled study setup. Methods: Altogether, 93 (80% women, mean age 53) consecutive patients underwent spine imaging after random assignement to a 1-T horizontal open MR scanner with a vertical magnetic field or a 1.5-T short-bore MR scanner. This patient subset was part of a larger cohort. Image quality was assessed by determining qualitative parameters, signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR), and quantitative contour sharpness. Results: The image quality parameters were higher for short-bore MR imaging. Regarding all sequences, the relative differences were 39% for the mean overall qualitative image quality, 53% for the mean SNR values, and 34–37% for the quantitative contour sharpness (P

This article is from PLoS ONE , volume 8 . Abstract Background: The purpose of the present study was to compare the image quality of spinal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performed on a high-field horizontal open versus a short-bore MR scanner in a randomized controlled study setup. Methods: Altogether, 93 (80% women, mean age 53) consecutive patients underwent spine imaging after random assignement to a 1-T horizontal open MR scanner with a vertical magnetic field or a 1.5-T short-bore MR scanner. This patient subset was part of a larger cohort. Image quality was assessed by determining qualitative parameters, signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR), and quantitative contour sharpness. Results: The image quality parameters were higher for short-bore MR imaging. Regarding all sequences, the relative differences were 39% for the mean overall qualitative image quality, 53% for the mean SNR values, and 34–37% for the quantitative contour sharpness (P

Objective: To assess the incidence and kinds of incidental findings of the lumbar spine during Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) evaluation for degenerative intervertebral disc disease in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.