Vacuum disc: frequency of high signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of lumbar intervertebral disc vacuum clefts demonstrating high signal intensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images.

DESIGN AND PATIENTS

MR images of the lumbosacral spine of 100 patients with radiographic evidence of the lumbar intervertebral disc vacuum phenomenon were retrospectively studied for the signal pattern of the intervertebral disc vacuum clefts.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Twelve of the reviewed MR studies demonstrated high signal intensity of the vacuum clefts on long TR and TE sequences while the remaining 88 cases demonstrated the vacuum as signal void on both T1- and T2-weighted images. It is concluded that vacuum clefts not infrequently show high T2 signal intensity.