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Table 1 Pfirrmann grading of lumbosacral disc degeneration a

From: Lumbar disc degeneration is associated with modic change and high paraspinal fat content – a 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging study

Grade

Structure

Distinction of nucleus and annulus

Signal intensity

Height of intervertebral disc

I

Homogenous, bright white

Clear

Hyperintense, isointense to cerebrospinal fluid

Normal

II

Inhomogenous with or without horizontal bands

Clear

Hyperintense, isointense to cerebrospinal fluid

Normal

III

Inhomogenous, grey

Unclear

Intermediate

Normal to slightly decreased

IV

Inhomogenous, grey to black

Lost

Intermediate to hypointense

Normal to moderately decreased

V

Inhomogenous, black

Lost

Hypointense

Collapsed disc space

  1. a Adapted from Pfirrmann et al. [11], whereby grades IV and V represent “severe intervertebral disc degeneration”