Lumbar root compression in the lateral recess: MR imaging, conventional myelography, and CT myelography comparison with surgical confirmation.

Abstract

MR imaging significantly underestimated root compression caused by degenerative changes in the lateral recess. Although MR imaging is a superb study when used in the search for degenerative disk disease and disk protrusion, conventional myelography is a crucial supplemental study that is necessary to confirm degenerative root impingement in the lateral recess as the cause of radiculopathy.