Seventy-three discs in 44 patients were examined for disc degeneration by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), discograpy, and by computered tomography after discography (CTD). We classified discs into three types, white, speckled or black by sagittal T2 magnetic resonance imaging. MRI (T2-weighted), discography and CTD of discs showed a high correlation with each other. However about 50% of the white type had mild to severe degeneration on MRI (T2). Therefore, precise diagnosis of disc degeneration cannot be obtained solely by MRI.
