report:
" diminished normal lumbar lordosis, denoting para-vertebral muscle spasm.
" evidence of lumbar spondylodegenerative changes manifested as multiple small marginal osteophytes and few small schmorl's nodes.
" all the scanned lumbar intervertebral discs show loss of the normal bright T2SI, denoting discs desiccation.
" the vertebral body heights are maintained with preserved marrow signal.
" at L5-S1 level, there is mild diffuse annular disc bulge associated with small focal central protrusion with minimal cranial migration, causing effacement of the anterior epidural fat and narrowing of both related exit neural foramina, more on the left side.
" at L4-5 level, there is diffuse annular disc bulge, indenting the ventral aspect of thecal sac and causing mild narrowing of the lower portion of both related exit neural foramina
" the antero-posterior diameter of the spinal canal is within normal with no evidence of spinal stenosis.
" the conus medullaris is normal in position, configuration and signal characteristics.
" mildly thickened both ligamentum flava at L4-5 level and the left ones at L3-4 and L5-4 levels.
minimal bilateral synovial effusion of both facet joints is also noted at L4-5 level.
" no intra spinal or para spinal masses identified.
impression:
lumbar spondylodegenerative changes associated with multi-level disc affection as detailed in the text.