Clinical Correlation

3. Clinical Correlation

Clinical correlation validates that the diagnosed conditions are the cause of the complaints or symptoms.

False Positive Rates for Lumbar MRI

Coincidental Findings in pain free patients

Asymptomatic (no pain) Under 60 years old

–        Bulging disc: 33%

–        Herniated disc: 20%

Asymptomatic (no pain) Over 60 years old

–        Degenerative changes: 100%

–        Bulging disk: 80%

–        Herniated disk: 33%

–        Spinal stenosis: 20%

*Cervical MRI correlates better with symptomatic disc herniation than lumbar.

Unlike lumbar MRIs, cervical MRIs rarely demonstrate false positives for disc herniation. In 2004 Giuliano et al. performed Cervical MRIs on 100 asymptomatic (people with no neck pain) volunteers and 100 symptomatic (pain-suffering) patients that were in the subacute phase post rear-end motor vehicle accident.

The results indicated only 2% of the asymptomatic volunteers demonstrated a false-positive disc herniation on MRI; on the other hand, 28% of the symptomatic whiplash patients demonstrated disc herniation on MRI.

Clinical correlation validates that the diagnosed conditions are the cause of the complaints or symptoms.