[Comparative ultrasound and computerized tomography studies of lumbar intervertebral disks and the lumbar canal].

Sonography and computerised tomography were carried out on 61 lumbar segments (L5/S1, L4/5, L3/4) of 30 patients not having vertebrogenous symptoms. Transabdominal lumbar sonography with a 3.5 MHz sector probe proved to be a valuable imaging method, allowing to demonstrate the shape and dorsal outline of the lumbar discs. Bowl-shaped, right-angled and funnel-shaped configurations of the dorsal spinal canal are typical findings. The interpretation of the ultrasonic tomograms and the identification of normal anatomy are improved through comparative imaging by computerised tomography.