Objective To evaluate image quality of 3D-FIESTA-C sequence displaying lumbar spinal nerves and intervertebral discs in patients with low back pain.Methods Routine protocol for lumbar MRI examinations (sagittal IDEAL,sagittal T1 WI and axial T2 WI sequences)and sagittal 3D-FIESTA-C sequence were performed in 40 patients with low back pain.The MPR of the 3D-FIESTA-C images were used for further analysis.Two radiologists scored the different sequences of images independently.The SNR and the CNR between spinal nerves and cerebrospinal fluid were calculated at 3D-FIESTA-C,IDEAL,T2 WI sequences.Results The image scores of 3D-FIESTA-C (4.77±0.42)was higher than that of the routine protocol (3.00±0.32),and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.0 1 ). For 3D-FIESTA-C,IDEAL and T2 WI sequences,the SNR of the spinal nerves was 33.07±12.29,39.91 ±18.16,27.40±10.34,respectively,and there was no statistical difference between 3D-FIESTA-C and IDEAL,3D-FIESTA-C was better than T2 WI (P＜0.05).The SNR of cerebrospinal fluid was 26 9.1 5 ±70.30,21 3.1 3±40.52,1 1 9.25 ±35.1 5 ,respectively,and 3D-FIESTA-C was better than IDEAL,T2 WI sequences (P＝0.000).The CNR between spinal nerves and cerebrospinal fluid was 235.92±62.04,172.69±38.75,91.85±30.62,respectively,and 3D-FIESTA-C was better than IDEAL,T2 WI sequences (P＝0.000).Conclusion The 3D-FIESTA-C sequence could display spinal nerves and the relative spatial relationship between the spinal nerves and the intervertebral discs,and addition of a 3D-FIESTA-C sequence to a routine lumbar MR protocol may be useful in patients with low back pain.