Table 1 Classification of intervertebral disk degeneration on MRI (Pfirrman scale)
From: Distribution of Modic changes in patients with low back pain and its related factors
Grades | Structures | Distinction between nucleus and annulus | Signal intensity | Disk height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Bright white, homogeneous | Clear | Hyperintense, isointense to cerebrospinal fluid | Normal |
II | Inhomogeneous with or without horizontal bands | Clear | Hyperintense, isointense to cerebrospinal fluid | Normal |
III | Gray, inhomogeneous | Unclear | Intermediate | Normal to slightly decreased |
IV | Gray to black, inhomogeneous | Lost | Intermediate to hypointense | Normal to moderately decreased |
V | Black, inhomogeneous | Lost | Hypointense | Collapsed |