Lumbar Disc Nomenclature 2.0

A normal disc is composed of a central nucleus pulposus and peripheral annulus fibrosus.
The disc is within the boundaries of the disc space, as defined, craniad and caudad by the vertebral body end plates and peripherally by the planes of the outer edges of the vertebral apophyses.

Degeneration includes any of the following: desiccation, fibrosis, narrowing of the disc space, diffuse bulging of the annulus beyond the disc space, annular fissures, mucinous degeneration of the annulus, intradiscal gas, osteophytes of the vertebral apophyses, inflammatory changes, and sclerosis of the end plates.

The presence of disc tissue extending beyond the edges of the ring apophyses, throughout the circumference of the disc, is called ''bulging'' and is not considered a form of herniation.
It is the result of tears in the annulus fibrosus.

Asymmetric bulging of disc tissue greater than 25% of the disc circumference is often seen as an adaptation to adjacent deformity.

Annular fissures are separations between annular fibers, seen as high intensity zones on T2W-images representing fluid or granulation tissue and may enhance with gadolinium.

Disc herniation is defined as a focal displacement of disc material ( < 25% of the disc circumference) beyond the limits of the intervertebral disc space.

A herniated disc can be contained (covered by outer annulus fibrosus) or uncontained.

Contained herniation

Disc herniations are contained, if the displaced portion is covered by outer annulus fibers and/or the posterior longitudinal ligament.
The margins of the contained disc protrusions are smooth on imaging.

Disc herniations are uncontained when there is no such covering.

Protrusion - Extrusion

Protrusion indicates that the distance between the edges of the disc herniation is less than the distance between the edges of the base.

Extrusion is present when the distance between the edges of the disc material is greater than the distance at the base.
Extrusion is associated with a defect in the annulus fibrosus and are usually noncontained.

Migration

Migration indicates displacement of disc material away from the site of extrusion, regardless of whether sequestrated or not.

Sequestration

The term sequestration is used to indicate that the displaced disc material has lost continuity with the parent disc.

Intravertebral herniation

Intravertebral herniation or Schmorl node is herniation of disc material in the vertical direction through a gap in the vertebral end plate.

Axial plane

Central
Since the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) is at its thickest in this region, the disc usually herniates slightly to the left or right of this central zone.

Subarticular
Because the PLL is not as thick in this region, this is the number one region for disc herniations.

Foraminal
It is rare for a disc to herniate into the intervertebral foramen.
Only 5% to 10% of all disc herniation occur here or farther out.
When herniations do occur in this zone, they are often very troublesome for the patient.
This is because a super-delicate neural structure called the 'Dorsal Root Ganglion' (DRG) lives in this zone resulting in severe pain, sciatica and nerve cell damage.

Extraforaminal
Disc herniations in this region are uncommon.

Craniocaudal plane

In the craniocaudal plane disc herniations are described as at disc level, suprapedicular level, pedicular level and infrapedicular level.

The Modic classification describes degenerative and inflammatory changes involving the vertebral endplates and adjacent vertebral bodies as seen on MRI.

Modic Type 1

Modic Type 1 is seen as low signal intensity on T1WI and high on T2WI, representing fibrovascular tissue, inflammatory changes, and perhaps edema.
Type I changes may be chronic or acute.

There is a correlation between low back pain and Modic changes, especially Modic type 1.

Modic Type 2

Modic Type 2 is seen as high signal intensity on T1WI and isointense or high on T2WI, representing bone marrow replacement by fat.

Modic Type 3

Modic Type 3 is seen as low signal intensity on T1WI and low on T2WI, representing reactive sclerosis.