Modic Degenerative Marrow Changes in the Thoracic Spine : A Single Center Experience.
10.3340/jkns.2013.54.1.34
- Author:
Jae Meen LEE
1
;
Kyoung Hyup NAM
;
In Sook LEE
;
Se Kyung PARK
;
Byung Kwan CHOI
;
In Ho HAN
Author Information
1. Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea. farlateral@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Prevalence;
Modic change;
Thoracic spine;
Disc herniation
- MeSH:
Back Pain;
Bone Marrow;
Consensus;
Humans;
Prevalence;
Spine
- From:Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
2013;54(1):34-37
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the prevalence, types, and locations of Modic changes (MCs) in the thoracic spine in a large number of subjects, and to investigate the relation between the distributions of MCs and disc herniations (DHs) in the thoracic spine. METHODS: Two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists assessed the presence of MCs and DHs by consensus in the thoracic MRIs of 144 patients with non-specific back pain. Patient ages ranged from 22 to 88 years (mean=53.3+/-14.66 years), and 72 were female (50%). The prevalence, distribution, relation of MCs and DHs was recorded. RESULTS: MC was observed in 8 of the 144 patients (5.6%) and 10 of 1728 segments (0.58%). The most common MC was type II. Of the 8 patients exhibiting MC, 6 had type II (75.0%), and 2 had mixed MCs (type I/II or type II/III). MCs were distributed mainly at the mid-thoracic level (from T5/6 to T9/10). DH was detected in 18 patients (12.5%), 36 of 1728 segments (2.1%). Of the 10 segments exhibiting MC, 5 had DHs at the same level (50.0%). Accordingly, DH was strongly associated with MC (p=0.000). CONCLUSION: A low prevalence of MC was observed in the thoracic spine, and type II MC predominated. The low prevalence of MC in the thoracic spine suggests that it was caused by a relative lack of mobility as compared with the cervical and lumbar spines. And DHs were found to be strongly associated with MCs even in the thoracic spine.
