The peridiscal and nuclear (nucleus pulposus and inner layer of annulus fibrosus) signal intensities in 1773 discs of adult patients were compared with common degenerative lumbar disc disease. Images were taken with a 7mm slice thickness and T2 weighted (TE 80-90mS, TR 2000-2200mS) midsagittal and parasagittal imaging. We have reported the correlation between these intensities of teen-age patients in the previous WJSOT. In adults the signal intensity primarily decreased in the peridiscal vertebrae (osseous end plate) and secondarily decreased in the nucleus pulposus. These findings suggest that degenerative changes of the nucleus pulposus originate from peridiscal (osseous endplate) disorders. But correlation of these intensities in adult patients was lower than in teen-age patients.
