MRI findings of disc protrusion , nerve root displacement or compression , disc degeneration , and high intensity zone are all associated with LBP , but individually , none of these abnormalities provides a strong indication that LBP is attributable to underlying pathology .
This limits their value in refining epidemiological case definitions for LBP
OBJECTIVE to assess how confidently  low back pain ( LBP ) can be attributed to abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) , and thereby explore the potential value of MRI abnormalities in refining case definition for mechanical LBP in epidemiological research .
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA most epidemiological studies of mechanical LBP have defined cases only by reported symptoms , but it is possible that the potency of causes differs depending on whether there is demonstrable underlying spinal pathology .
The Longitudinal Assessment of Imaging and Disability of the Back (LAIDBack) Study: Baseline Data
Study Design . Prospect i ve cohort study of r and omly selected Veterans Affairs ( VA ) out patients . Objective . To determine the prevalence of  magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) findings in the lumbar spine among persons without current low back pain or sciatica and to examine which findings are related to age or previous back symptoms . Summary of Background Information . Previous studies of patients without low back pain have not explored the possible association of various MRI findings to past symptoms . Methods . We r and omly selected an age-stratified sample of subjects without low back pain in the past 4 months from clinics at a VA hospital . We collected information on demographics , comorbidity , functional status , and quality of life .  MR images were obtained using a st and ardized protocol through each of the five lumbar disc levels . Results . Of 148 subjects , 69 ( 46 % ) had never experienced low back pain .  There were 123 subjects ( 83 % ) with moderate to severe desiccation of one or more discs , 95 ( 64 % ) with one or more bulging discs , and 83 ( 56 % ) with loss of disc height . Forty-eight subjects ( 32 % ) had at least one disc protrusion and 9 ( 6 % ) had one or more disc extrusions . Conclusion . Many MR imaging findings have a high prevalence in subjects without low back pain . These findings are therefore of limited diagnostic use . The less common findings of moderate or severe central stenosis , root compression , and extrusions are likely to be diagnostically and clinical ly relevant
MRI findings of disc protrusion , nerve root displacement or compression , disc degeneration , and high intensity zone are all associated with LBP , but individually , none of these abnormalities provides a strong indication that LBP is attributable to underlying pathology .
This limits their value in refining epidemiological case definitions for LBP
OBJECTIVE to assess how confidently  low back pain ( LBP ) can be attributed to abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) , and thereby explore the potential value of MRI abnormalities in refining case definition for mechanical LBP in epidemiological research .
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA most epidemiological studies of mechanical LBP have defined cases only by reported symptoms , but it is possible that the potency of causes differs depending on whether there is demonstrable underlying spinal pathology .