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AJNR Awards, New Junior Editors, and more. Read the latest AJNR updates

Research ArticleSpine
Open Access

Systematic Literature Review of Imaging Features of Spinal Degeneration in Asymptomatic Populations

W. Brinjikji, P.H. Luetmer, B. Comstock, B.W. Bresnahan, L.E. Chen, R.A. Deyo, S. Halabi, J.A. Turner, A.L. Avins, K. James, J.T. Wald, D.F. Kallmes and J.G. Jarvik
American Journal of Neuroradiology April 2015, 36 (4) 811-816; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A4173
W. Brinjikji
aFrom the Department of Radiology (W.B., P.H.L., J.T.W., D.F.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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P.H. Luetmer
aFrom the Department of Radiology (W.B., P.H.L., J.T.W., D.F.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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B. Comstock
bDepartments of Biostatistics (B.C.)
cRadiology (B.C., B.W.B., L.E.C., K.J., J.G.J.)
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B.W. Bresnahan
cRadiology (B.C., B.W.B., L.E.C., K.J., J.G.J.)
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L.E. Chen
cRadiology (B.C., B.W.B., L.E.C., K.J., J.G.J.)
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R.A. Deyo
fDepartments of Family Medicine, Medicine, and Public Health and Preventive Medicine and the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences (R.A.D.), Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
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S. Halabi
gDepartment of Radiology (S.H.), Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
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J.A. Turner
dPsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (J.A.T.)
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A.L. Avins
hDepartment of Radiology (A.L.A.), University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
iDivision of Research (A.L.A.), Kaiser Permanente, Northern California, Oakland, California.
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K. James
cRadiology (B.C., B.W.B., L.E.C., K.J., J.G.J.)
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J.T. Wald
aFrom the Department of Radiology (W.B., P.H.L., J.T.W., D.F.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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D.F. Kallmes
aFrom the Department of Radiology (W.B., P.H.L., J.T.W., D.F.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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J.G. Jarvik
cRadiology (B.C., B.W.B., L.E.C., K.J., J.G.J.)
eNeurological Surgery and Health Services (J.G.J.), Comparative Effectiveness Cost and Outcomes Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Degenerative changes are commonly found in spine imaging but often occur in pain-free individuals as well as those with back pain. We sought to estimate the prevalence, by age, of common degenerative spine conditions by performing a systematic review studying the prevalence of spine degeneration on imaging in asymptomatic individuals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a systematic review of articles reporting the prevalence of imaging findings (CT or MR imaging) in asymptomatic individuals from published English literature through April 2014. Two reviewers evaluated each manuscript. We selected age groupings by decade (20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 years), determining age-specific prevalence estimates. For each imaging finding, we fit a generalized linear mixed-effects model for the age-specific prevalence estimate clustering in the study, adjusting for the midpoint of the reported age interval.

RESULTS: Thirty-three articles reporting imaging findings for 3110 asymptomatic individuals met our study inclusion criteria. The prevalence of disk degeneration in asymptomatic individuals increased from 37% of 20-year-old individuals to 96% of 80-year-old individuals. Disk bulge prevalence increased from 30% of those 20 years of age to 84% of those 80 years of age. Disk protrusion prevalence increased from 29% of those 20 years of age to 43% of those 80 years of age. The prevalence of annular fissure increased from 19% of those 20 years of age to 29% of those 80 years of age.

CONCLUSIONS: Imaging findings of spine degeneration are present in high proportions of asymptomatic individuals, increasing with age. Many imaging-based degenerative features are likely part of normal aging and unassociated with pain. These imaging findings must be interpreted in the context of the patient's clinical condition.

  • © 2015 by American Journal of Neuroradiology

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American Journal of Neuroradiology: 36 (4)
American Journal of Neuroradiology
Vol. 36, Issue 4
1 Apr 2015
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Cite this article
W. Brinjikji, P.H. Luetmer, B. Comstock, B.W. Bresnahan, L.E. Chen, R.A. Deyo, S. Halabi, J.A. Turner, A.L. Avins, K. James, J.T. Wald, D.F. Kallmes, J.G. Jarvik
Systematic Literature Review of Imaging Features of Spinal Degeneration in Asymptomatic Populations
American Journal of Neuroradiology Apr 2015, 36 (4) 811-816; DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A4173

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Systematic Literature Review of Imaging Features of Spinal Degeneration in Asymptomatic Populations
W. Brinjikji, P.H. Luetmer, B. Comstock, B.W. Bresnahan, L.E. Chen, R.A. Deyo, S. Halabi, J.A. Turner, A.L. Avins, K. James, J.T. Wald, D.F. Kallmes, J.G. Jarvik
American Journal of Neuroradiology Apr 2015, 36 (4) 811-816; DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A4173
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