Interobserver Reliability of Detecting Lumbar Intervertebral Disc High-Intensity Zone on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Association of High-Intensity Zone With Pain and Anular Disruption

Abstract

The interobserver reliability of detecting a high-intensity zone and the positive predictive value of the presence of a high-intensity zone for detecting a severely disrupted and exactly painful disc were much lower than previous studies have shown. The relatively low positive predictive value may be attributable to differences in sample characteristics or procedural variations, or suggest that a high-intensity zone is not indicative of exactly painful internal intervertebral disc disruption.