[Experimental and clinical studies on the value of MRI in the diagnosis of lumbar disc lesions].

This dissertation reports basic and clinical research performed on the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of lumbar disc lesions. With the T2 weighted spin echo image (T2-W-SE), the center portion of normal discs showed high signal intensity, with gradual drop-off signal intensity toward the edges. Experiments using gelatine indicated that this change in signal intensity resulted from the change in water content of the disc. In contrast to discograms, the use of MRI allowed disc degeneration to be classified into the three levels of "normal", "mild degeneration" and "moderate or severe degeneration". MRI allowed excellent depiction of disc herniation, even where a myelogram showed a complete block, and it also readily distinguished recurrent disc herniation and post-operative scarring.