Prevalence of lumbar high-intensity zone: assessment using a screening tool independent of spinal symptoms.

The prevalence of high-intensity zone has not been clearly established. We evaluated 216 patients studied with abdominal-pelvic magnetic resonance imaging to determine the prevalence of lumbar high-intensity zone using a screening tool independent of spinal symptoms. We looked for high-intensity zone, disc degeneration, spondylolisis, spondylolisthesis, Modic changes and scoliosis. We determined if these variables, age and sex affected the presence of high-intensity zone; through a logistic regression analysis we evaluated their independent effect. Patients’ mean age was 56.3±17.4 years; 66.8% were females. Prevalence of high-intensity zone was 11.06%; prevalence was larger in males (18.06%) than females (7.59%), p= 0.02. Patients with and without high-intensity zone did not differ in age or presence of scoliosis. High-intensity zone was more frequent in degenerated discs, but not in levels with spondylolisis, spondylolisthesis or Modic changes. Male sex (OR= 2.3, 1.04-5.38) and disc degeneration (OR= 6.76, 1.77-25.81) independently influenced the presence of high-intensity zone