Comparison Between Incidental Findings on CT-Scan and MRI of Patients with Lumbar Spinal Trauma

Abstract

A significant percentage of patients with Incidental findings are further evaluated with additional imaging tests or other diagnostic tests and procedures. The aim of this study is the comparison between incidental findings on CT-Scan and MRI of patients with lumbar spinal trauma. Materials and Methods: This research was a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study. In this study, the target population was patients with spinal trauma who underwent CT scan and MRI without invasive intervention and referred to Imam Reza Hospital in 2020. The sample size was calculated to be 108 people. The sampling method was done by simple sampling using Excel software. They were examined for the presence of incidental findings in CT and MRI. Common findings in CT and MRI were reviewed and compared with each other. Results: In this study, the most MRI findings in the subjects were Disc dehydration with 60 cases (55.6%), Disc bulging with 36 cases (33.3%) and Facet osteoarthritis with 33 cases (30.6%). Also, the most CT findings in the studied subjects were marginal osteophytosis with 33 cases (30.6%), facet osteoarthritis with 30 cases (27.8%) and end plate sclerosis with 27 cases (25.0%), respectively. Among the incidental findings of CT scan and MRI, the findings of LSTV by MRI (P=0.040) and Disc extrusion by MRI (P=0.033) were significantly more in men than in women; On the other hand, the findings of Modic type 2 change by MRI (P=0.006) and Marginal osteophytosis by CT (P<0.001) were significantly more in women than in men. Among the incidental findings of CT scan and MRI, findings of Disc dehydration by MRI (P=0.007), Disc bulging by MRI (P=0.010), Facet osteoarthritis by MRI (P<0.001), Schmorl's nodes by MRI (P<0.001), Hemangioma by MRI (P=0.034), Modic type 2 change by MRI (P<0.001), Scoliosis by MRI (P<0.001), Lumbar spinal stenosis by MRI (P<0.001), Metastatic lesions by MRI (P<0.001), Modic type 1 change by MRI (P<0.001), Marginal osteophytosis by CT (P<0.001), Facet osteoarthritis by CT (P<0.001), End plate sclerosis by CT (P<0.001), Schmorl's nodes by CT (P<0.001), Disc protrusion by CT (P=0.042), Scoliosis by CT (P<0.001) and Metastatic lesions by CT (P<0.001) were significantly more than the absence of the aforementioned findings; On the other hand, the findings of BMH by MRI (P<0.001), LSTV by MRI (P=0.012) and LSTV by CT (P=0.012) were significantly lower than the absence of these findings. In this study, there was about 60% concordance between MRI findings and CT findings in the studied patients with lumbar spine trauma.