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Clinical Significance of High-intensity Zone for Discogenic Low Back Pain: A Review

Authors:
  • Tokushima University Graduate School, Japan

Abstract and Figures

High-intensity zone (HIZ) was originally described as a high-intensity signal on T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images, located in the posterior annulus fibrosus, clearly separated from the nucleus pulposus. Among symptomatic patients with low back pain, HIZ is present in 28-59% of cases. In morphologically abnormal discs, high sensitivity and specificity of 81% and 79%, respectively, were reported for HIZs and concordant pain during discography. In contrast, another report indicated low rates. Although most papers reported high sensitivity and specificity for this relationship, it remains controversial. Regarding the pathology of HIZs, inflammatory granulation tissues are found at sites showing HIZs. Such inflammatory tissues produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators, which sensitize the nociceptors within the disc and cause pain. An effective treatment for this condition is yet to be established. Recently, minimally invasive surgery using percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED) under local anesthesia was introduced. After removal of the degenerated disc material, the HIZ is identified with the endoscope and then coagulated and modulated with a bipolar radio pulse. This technique is called thermal annuloplasty. In conclusion, HIZs is an important sign of painful intervertebral disc disruption, if identified precisely based on factors such as location and intensity. J. Med. Invest. 63: 1-7, February, 2016
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INTRODUCTION
High-intensity zone (HIZ) has been described as an important
sign visualized on magnetic resonance (MR) images for the diag-
nosis of internal disc disruption causing discogenic low back pain
(DLBP). However, its identification in asymptomatic individuals
has made it a controversial issue. This report discusses recent and
changing trends in the diagnostic significance and management of
HIZs.
BACKGROUND
In approximately 85% cases with low back pain, the specific cause
remains unidentified (1, 2). More than 40% of cases with chronic
LBP are attributed to intervertebral disc damage, of which over
70% of cases have no nerve root compression (3- 6). DLBP due to
internal disc disruption is considered to be the most common cause
for chronic LBP (4, 5). Since clinical examination alone is not ca-
pable of identifying the exact source of chronic LBP, various in-
vestigations and related signs have been identified in the last few
decades (7, 8). Provocative discography, first described by Lin-
dolm and Hirsch in 1948, provides information on the morpho-
logical characteristics of the disc as well as the provoked pain re-
sponse (9, 10). Hence, it is still considered the gold standard by
many clinicians for the diagnosis and management of DLBP. How-
ever, provocative discography remains controversial due to its
invasive nature and associated complications, such as infection,
neurological injury, and possible contrast medium reaction. More-
over, the interpretation of the results is strongly influenced by the
psychological condition of the patient (11, 12). For this reason,
many clinicians have reservations regarding the significance and
utility of provocative discography in the diagnosis of DLBP.
A significant breakthrough was made in 1992, when, for the first
time, Aprill and Bogduk described HIZs on MR images for diag-
nosing DLBP (13). Their study demonstrated a prevalence of 28.6%
for HIZs, with sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value
(PPV) of 71%, 89%, and 86%, respectively, for diagnosing sympto-
matic LBP patients (13). After that, various studies have investi-
gated the significance of HIZs : some reports have described a
limited role of HIZs in the diagnosis of LBP due to low sensitivity
and high prevalence in asymptomatic subjects, while many other
reports have considered HIZs to be a reliable non - invasive means
of confirming painful internal disc disruption.
Figure 1 shows typical MR images in a patient with DLBP. This
patient is a 36- year-old male baseball player who experienced
LBP on flexion while playing. On sagittal and axial MR images
(Figure 1a, 1b), the HIZ is obvious at the L4 -5 level, with concor-
dant pain on provocative discography (Figure 1c). When he ex-
perienced severe pain, he was treated by intradiscal injection. He
was able to play through the season by repeating the intradiscal
injection therapy. At the end of the season, he retired from pro-
fessional baseball.
DEFINITION AND EPIDEMIOLOGY
Originally, HIZ was defined as a high- intensity signal on T2-
weighted MR images, located posteriorly in the annulus fibrosus,
which is clearly dissociated from the signal of the nucleus pulposus
(13). However, most authors now believe that a similar lesion
occurring at the posterolateral annulus fibrosus should also be
REVIEW
Clinical Significance of High-intensity Zone for Discogenic
Low Back Pain : A Review
Subash C. Jha, Kosaku Higashino, Toshinori Sakai, Yoichiro Takata, Mitsunobu Abe, Kazuta Yamashita,
Masatoshi Morimoto, Shoji Fukuta, Akihiro Nagamachi, and Koichi Sairyo
Department of Orthopedics, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
Abstract : High- intensity zone (HIZ) was originally described as a high - intensity signal on T2 - weighted magnetic
resonance (MR) images, located in the posterior annulus fibrosus, clearly separated from the nucleus pulposus.
Among symptomatic patients with low back pain, HIZ is present in 28 - 59
%
% of cases. In morphologically abnormal
discs, high sensitivity and specificity of 81
%
%and79
%
%, respectively, were reported for HIZs and concordant pain
during discography. In contrast, another report indicated low rates. Although most papers reported high sensi-
tivity and specificity for this relationship, it remains controversial. Regarding the pathology of HIZs, inflamma-
tory granulation tissues are found at sites showing HIZs. Such inflammatory tissues produce pro- inflammatory
cytokines and mediators, which sensitize the nociceptors within the disc and cause pain. An effective treatment
for this condition is yet to be established. Recently, minimally invasive surgery using percutaneous endoscopic
discectomy (PED) under local anesthesia was introduced. After removal of the degenerated disc material, the HIZ
is identified with the endoscope and then coagulated and modulated with a bipolar radio pulse. This technique
is called thermal annuloplasty. In conclusion, HIZs is an important sign of painful intervertebral disc disruption,
if identified precisely based on factors such as location and intensity. J. Med. Invest. 63 : 1 - 7, February, 2016
Keywords :High-intensity zone, Magnetic resonance images, Discography, Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy, Thermal annuloplasty
Received for publication July 20, 2015 ; accepted August 17, 2015.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Koichi Sairyo, MD,
PhD
,
Department of Orthopedics
,
Tokushima University
3-
18
-
15 Kuramoto
,
Tokushima 770-8503, Japan and Fax : +81 - 88 - 633 - 0178.
The Journal of Medical Investigation Vol. 63 2016
1
considered as HIZ, and such lesions are usually included in related
studies (14- 18). Bogduk (19) and Liu et al. (18) emphasized that
HIZ must be an intense signal, rather than any spot, in the posterior
annulus.
The prevalence of HIZs ranges from 28% to 59% in patients with
LBP, but its prevalence has also been reported to be as high as 56%
in patients without LBP (Table 1). In a prospective study of 144
patients, Lam et al. (20) concluded that HIZs are a reliable indicator
of symptomatic annular tears causing pain, with prevalence up to
51%. Their findings were comparable to the results of Aprill and
Bogduk (13). Wang et al. (16) reported that among 623 patients,
32.1% exhibited an HIZ in at least one disc, and the LBP rate among
the patients with HIZs was significantly higher than that among
the patients without HIZs (57.5% vs. 47.8%, P!
0.05). In a prospec-
tive comparative study conducted by Liu et al. (18), the prevalence
of HIZs was 45.8% in symptomatic LBP patients but 20.2% in the
asymptomatic control group.
Rankine et al. (21) assessed 156 patients with LBP and concluded
that HIZs occurred at a prevalence of 45.5%, but its occurrence
did not define a group of patients with specific clinical features.
Mitra et al. (22) found a 28.6% prevalence of HIZs, but concluded
that the correlation between HIZs and symptomatic changes was
not statistically significant. Carragee et al. (23) noted that the preva-
lence of HIZs was 59% in a symptomatic group of patients and 24%
in the asymptomatic group. Therefore, they questioned the mean-
ingful clinical use of this sign in the diagnosis of DLBP. Weishaupt
et al. (24) and Stadnik et al. (25) found the prevalence of HIZs to
be 32% and 56% in asymptomatic subjects, respectively. Factors
such as study population, size of the study cohort, technical factors
related to MR imaging, and the subjective nature of the assess-
ment of HIZs may have caused the difference in the prevalence of
HIZs reported in these studies (24).
CORRELATION WITH DISCOGRAPHY
Studies have demonstrated that in morphologically abnormal
discs, a significant correlation exists between HIZ- positive discs
and exact or similar pain reproduction on provocative discography
(Table 2). In a retrospective study, Saifuddin et al. (14) reviewed
58 patients based on MR images and discography findings. Of 152
discs injected on discography, they identified 86 annular tears, of
which 70 were associated with concordant pain provocation. On
MR images, HIZs were identified in 27 discs, of which 24 were
associated with pain reproduction on provocative discography.
The specificity, PPV, and negative predictive value (NPV) of MR
images in diagnosing a concordantly painful annular tear were
95.2%, 88.9%, and 47%, respectively. The sensitivity was only 26.7%,
which was lower than the findings of Aprill and Bogduk. However,
Lam et al. (20) conducted a study of 144 patients, and reported find-
ings similar to those of Aprill and Bogduk, with sensitivity, speci-
ficity, and PPV of 81%, 79%, and 87%, respectively, for HIZs and
concordant pain in morphologically abnormal discs. Schellehas
et al. (15) assessed 63 patients and found that 87 of 100 discs with
HIZs were concordantly painful on discography, with PPV and
NPV of 87% and 97%, respectively. In a retrospective study by Smith
et al. (27) the sensitivity and specificity of HIZs and concordant
painful discs were 31% and 90% respectively, but PPV was relatively
low at 40%, suggesting that HIZs may not be indicative of internal
disc disruption. Although some reports have observed a low rate
of correlation between HIZ and concordant pain in discography,
the majority of reports have shown good agreement with the re-
port of Aprill and Bogduk (13) indicating that these two parame-
ters are positively correlated. This issue remains controversial.
PATHOGENESIS
In the literature, discogenic pain is described as LBP with or with-
out leg pain, caused by disc degeneration and/or annular rupture
Figure 1. (a) Sagittal and (b) axial T2- weighted magnetic resonance
(MR) images showing high- intensity zones (HIZs) within the posterior
annulus fibrosus at the L4- 5 level (arrows). (c) Positive on discography.
Table 1 : Prevalence of HIZs in symptomatic and asymptomatic popu-
lations.
Study Symptomatic
(%)
Asymptomatic
(%) No. of patients
Aprill and Bogduk (13) 28 N/A 500
Liu et al. (18) 45.8 20.2 72/79
Lam et al. (20) 51 N/A 144
Rankine et al. (21) 45.5 N/A 156
Mitra et al. (22) 28.6 N/A 650
Carragee et al. (23) 59 24 42
Weishaupt et al. (24) N/A 32 60
Stadnik et al. (25) N/A 56 36
Table 2 : Correlation between HIZs and exact or similar pain repro-
duction on discography.
Study Sensitivity
(%)
Specificity
(%)
PPV
(%)
NPV
(%)
Itoet al. (5) 52.2 95.6 60 N/A
Aprill and Bogduk (13) 71 89 86 N/A
Saifuddin et al. (14) 26.7 95.2 88.9 47
Schellhas et al. (15) N/A N/A 87 97
Lam et al. (20) 81 79 87 N/A
Hebelka et al. (26) 49 69 70 76
Smith et al. (27) 31 90 40 N/A
2S. C. Jha, et al. High intensity zone
(28-30). Potential causes of non - discogenic LBP include spondy-
lolisthesis, spinal stenosis, degenerative scoliosis, disc herniation,
spinal fracture, infection, and neoplasm. Routine MR imaging of
the lumbosacral spine for investigating the cause of DLBP can
reveal various abnormalities of the disc, but the presence of an
abnormality does not necessarily indicate that it is responsible for
the pain (24, 31).
In normal adults, the annulus fibrosus is innervated by the re-
current meningeal nerve and by branches from the ventral ramus
of the somatic spinal nerve (32). Most of the nerve supply of the
intervertebral disc is limited to the periphery of the annulus fi-
brosus (32-34). With this knowledge, Sach et al. (35) found that
annular tears extending to the inner third of the annulus fibrosus
were asymptomatic, whereas tears that extended to the peripheral
third produced pain in 70% of their patients. Since the posterior
annulus is considered structurally weak and experiences high stress
concentrations, this site is more vulnerable to disruption and HIZs
compared with the anterior annulus (36).
Various authors have proposed that HIZs comprise fluid-filled
zones, possibly due to a detached nucleus pulposus that is trapped
between the lamellae of a torn annulus fibrosus, following secon-
dary inflammation that results in edema, causing the characteris-
tic signal abnormality on MR images (13, 15, 37, 38). This area
appears to enhance on gadolinium DTPA - MR images, indicating
the presence of granulation tissue or neovascularization induced
by inflammation (39). This was supported by the results of a ca-
daveric study by Yu et al. (40), which demonstrated that radial and
transverse tears could be identified on MR images, as well as a
histological study by Peng et al. (41) on lumbar intervertebral discs
containing HIZs in the posterior annulus. Such inflammatory granu-
lation tissue produces pro - inflammatory cytokines and mediators,
which sensitize the nociceptors within the disc, causing pain (8,
41). These findings suggest that biomechanical mediators are
more important than mechanical compression alone in the patho-
genesis of back pain (8, 17).
INFLUENCE OF THE MEASUREMENT CONDITIONS
AND STRENGTH OF MAGNETIC FIELD
Originally, HIZ was identified and defined on T2 - weighted MR
pulse sequence (13), and most of the studies about HIZ have used
1.5 Tesla (T) superconducting magnet in common (14 - 16, 18, 20,
22, 27). It is not clear whether strength or any other sequence of
MR imaging influences the detection of HIZ. It is considered that
more powerful MR imaging system has more resolution, making
the detection of HIZ easier and effective (20). Pande et al. (42)
used 0.5 T system for evaluating significance of HIZ in 200 patients.
They demonstrated prevalence of HIZ was 13% and 17% according
to observer A and B respectively, without any clinical significance
for diagnosis of disrupted and painful disc. Similarly, only 27 HIZs
were identified in MR images, out of 152 discs (17.7%) examined
by Saifuddin et al. (14) using 0.5 - 1.5 T system. The exact numbers
of patient examined by 0.5 T or 1 T or 1.5 T, was not included.
Rankine et al. (21) demonstrated prevalence of HIZ as high as
45.5% using 1 T system in their study. Hence, it is difficult to com-
ment the significance of strength of MR imaging for detection of
HIZ. We believe 1.5 T system frequently used worldwide is opti-
mum strength for detection of HIZ.
Sagittal and axial T2 - weighted sequences with slice thickness
from 3-5 mm and interspace gap ranging from 0.4 - 1.5 mm have
been used in majority of studies of HIZs (14 - 16, 18, 20, 22, 27, 51).
Use of short tau inversion recovery (STIR) MR sequence can be
helpful in HIZ identification but it will be too early to comment
so, without any relevant clinical study. Liu et al. (18) in their study
conducted MR study at about 3 : 00 PM to minimize the effect of
water influx and hydration of the discs, causing increase in disc
signal as much as 25% on T2-weighted images.
LOCATION
More than two - third of HIZs are identified at lower lumbar seg-
ments, with the highest number being identified at L4 - 5, followed
by L5- S1 (Table 3). Wang et al. revealed that the prevalence of
multisegmental HIZs (Figure 2) was 16.5%, and 25 of 33 cases with
multisegmental HIZs exhibited HIZs in an adjacent disc (16). In
the same study, HIZs were more frequently observed in the infe-
rior part of the annulus fibrosus (superior- middle - inferior ratio,
39 : 59 : 140), with statistically significant differences (16). Thus,
along with the original definition for the location of HIZs, which
included lesions in only the posterior annulus fibrosus, many
authors now think that HIZs exist circumferentially and that the
original definition should be expanded to include non- midline le-
sions, while keeping in mind that posterior lesions are the com-
monest (15-17).
INTENSITY
With growing controversies surrounding the definition of HIZ
and its significance, an important factor is the identification of true
HIZs. Failure to distinguish true HIZs from low/medium intensity
zones may lead to a lower diagnostic value of HIZs (44). Reliable
and sophisticated measures are needed for the precise detection
and assessment of HIZs to improve the clinical utility of this finding
(26). ONeil et al. (45) divided HIZs into grades of mild, moderate,
and marked hyperintense. They found that moderate and marked
lesions had higher specificities. Carragee et al. (23) found that if
the signal was within 10% of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) inten-
sity, it could be considered as a true HIZ, but they did not discuss
reliability. In a quantitative study conducted by Liu et al. (18), the
mean signal of HIZs was significantly brighter in symptomatic
subjects than in asymptomatic subjects. Therefore, they defined
a true HIZ as a lesion with signal intensity at least as bright as 50%
of the CSF signal intensity. In their study, the corresponding disc
with HIZs was outlined first on T1 - weighted MR images. The con-
tour of the disc obtained on T1-weighted MR images was copied
Table 3 : Distribution of HIZs in different lumbar intervertebral discs.
Study L1-2 L2-3 L3 - 4 L4 - 5 L5 - S1 Total no. of HIZs
Saifuddin et al. (14) 0 2 3 14 8 27
Schellhas et al. (15) 2 1 14 46 37 100
Wang et al. (16) 7 10 40 106 75 238
Lam et al. (20)0 2 13443291
Ricketson et al. (37)000729
Wilkens et al. (43)0059923
The Journal of Medical Investigation Vol. 63 February 2016 3
and moved to T2- weighted MR images, with some fine adjust-
ments. A clear sample of CSF located adjacent to the disc was used
as the reference to adjust signal intensity. The CSF -adjusted HIZ
was a ratio of the mean signal intensity of the HIZ to that of the
adjacent CSF. If the adjacent spinal canal was too narrow to obtain
an adequate sample of CSF, the nearest level possible was taken
as the reference point for adjusting the signal intensity. Liu et al.
also recommended this method as a more practical protocol to
increase measurement precision and reduce error in both clinical
and radiological studies, with both excellent intra- and inter - ob-
server reliability (18). All these findings support the Bogduk hy-
pothesis : A low/medium intensity zonerepresenting an annular
fissure can be found in MR images in asymptomatic populations,
whereas the symptomatic population will have true HIZs, which
are significantly brighter and are a reliable marker of discogenic
pain (18, 19).
TREATMENT
Various treatment modalities have been described based on the
consideration of HIZs as a potential source of DLBP. In a longitu-
dinal study, Mitra et al. (22) concluded that HIZs do not change,
spontaneously resolve, or improve in most patients over time and
that there is no statistically significant relationship between the
evolution of HIZs and changes in symptoms. However, various
medical and minimally invasive surgical techniques for treating
HIZs and DLBP are presently under trial, with varying clinical
results.
In a randomized controlled trial by Wilkens et al. (43), oral glu-
cosamine intake for 6 months did not alter the presence of HIZs
as compared with placebo. In their study, HIZs resolved in 3 of 23
discs in 3 of 21 patients : 1 of 8 patients on oral glucosamine ther-
apy and 2 of 13 patients on placebo. The idea behind using glu-
cosamine therapy is to target interleukin (IL) - 1β(46), considering
that HIZ is a potential marker of an osteoarthritic degenerative
process and is related to the secretion of pro- inflammatory me-
diators (8), and that HIZs may contain IL - 1β. Previous research has
also demonstrated the inability of glucosamine to reduce LBP or
LBP-related disability (47).
Various minimally invasive procedures, such as intradiscal elec-
trothermal therapy (IDET), intradiscal injections, and percutane-
ous endoscopic discectomy and thermal annuloplasty (PEDTA)
have been assessed. Promising effects have been observed but
no clear conclusions have been reached (48 - 50). While these thera-
pies offer satisfactory symptomatic relief from LBP, as noted by
treating clinicians, their mechanisms of action have yet to be com-
prehensively explained. Narvani et al. (51) reported symptomatic
improvement in 8 of 10 patients treated with IDET at 6 months post
-
procedure, though the HIZs were noted to persist even after the
procedure. They postulated three possible explanations for their
findings : (1) the presence of HIZ does not accurately predict an-
nular tear ; (2) IDET does not seal the annular tear but rather stiff-
ens the annulus and offloads the pain- sensitive areas ; and (3)
IDET seals the tears but does not reverse the chronic inflamma-
tory changes of HIZs.
In a prospective study, Miller et al. (48) suggested that intradis-
cal injection of a solution consisting of 50% dextrose and 0.25%
bupivacaine may have a place in the management of pain arising
from advanced lumbar degenerative disc disease. Since oral glu-
cosamine was ineffective, Derby et al. (49) compared IDET with
intradiscal restorative injections consisting of injectable glucosamine
and chondroitin sulfate combined with hypertonic dextrose and
dimethylsulfoxide to reduce pain and disability in patients with
chronic DLBP. The results were similar for intradiscal injections
and IDET, but the injections provided a better cost - benefit ratio.
IDET was performed in 74 patients, while 35 patients received in-
tradiscal injection ; while satisfactory results were noted in both
procedures, outcomes were slightly better for the injections than
those for IDET. Moreover, only 47.8% of the patients who under-
went IDET reported improvement, whereas 65.6% of the patients
who received intradiscal injection were satisfied with the outcome.
Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED) was initially estab-
lished as a novel surgical technique for the management of lumbar
disc herniation (52). It is a minimally invasive procedure, where
an endoscope is inserted intradiscally via the posterolateral, trans-
foraminal approach through an 8 mm skin incision under local an-
esthesia, causing minimum injury to the back muscles (52, 53).
Additionally, radiofrequency thermal annuloplasty (TA) with PED
(PEDTA) has been reported as the most recent advancement in
the treatment of DLBP (54-56).
In a retrospective study of 113 patients of DLBP treated by
PEDTA, Tsou et al. (54) reported 73.5% satisfactory outcomes (ex-
cellent 15%, good 28.3%, and fair 30.1%) at 2- year follow - up, while
26.5% patients were found to have poor results. Sairyo et al. (55)
reported the cases of 4 professional athletes with DLBP, including
2 showing HIZs on MR images, who were successfully treated by
PEDTA. The endoscopic visualization of vascularized granulation
tissue in the outer region of the annulus fibrosus, which correlated
with the location of HIZs on MR images, further supports the sig-
nificance of HIZs and helps in radiofrequency TA under direct vi-
sion (54, 55, 57). Hence, PEDTA appears to provide better results
than other procedures, as it can significantly reduce intradiscal
pressure, remove the inflammed nucleus pulposus under direct
vision, provide the TA effect, and reduce the presence of inflam-
matory factors involved in pain through irrigation (52-57).
Figure 3 demonstrates a case of DLBP due to HIZs, a 48- year-
old man who had chronic DLBP for approximately 20 years. MR
images revealed HIZs at L4-5, and discography showed concor-
dant pain at the same level ; thus, PEDTA was performed under
local anesthesia. Before surgery, the patient had LBP graded 2/
10 on the visual analog scale (VAS). He also had a history of 3 - 4
episodes of severe LBP requiring sick leave every year. After the
surgery, his LBP almost completely resolved. After undergoing
strenuous rehabilitation, including hamstring stretching, trunk
Figure 2. (a) Sagittal and (b and c) axial T2- weighted MR images
showing multisegmental HIZs within the posterior annulus fibrosus of L4 -
5 and L5-S1 levels (arrows).
4S. C. Jha, et al. High intensity zone
muscle core exercises, and thoracic spine stretching, he was able
to resume activities of daily living without LBP. Sugiura et al. (57)
endoscopically observed the site showing HIZs and found red col-
oration at the site, suggesting neovascularization into the disc
space. Thus, with direct vision of the inflammatory site, TA could
be performed as pinpoint surgery that accurately targeted the ori-
gin of the pain. Figure 4 shows the MR images of a 36-year -old
professional baseball player. He presented with a 1 - year history
of chronic LBP. The initial MR images (Figure 4a, 4b) revealed
herniated nucleus pulposus at the L3- 4 and L4 - 5 levels, with ad-
ditional HIZs at the L4- 5 level. However, provocative discography
revealed concordant pain at only the L4 - 5 level. Hence, discogenic
pain due to HIZs at the L4- 5 level was diagnosed. Treatment with
intradiscal injections was attempted, but little symptomatic relief
was achieved. Repeat MR examination (Figure 4c, 4d) after 10
months revealed that the HIZs had become more prominent, with
increased intensity at the L4- 5 level. PEDTA was therefore per-
formed. Postoperatively, his LBP disappeared, and he returned to
playing at the professional level from the next season. At 5 years
postoperatively, he has remained very active as a professional
baseball player.
PEDTA is a comparatively new technique, and there is not yet
much evidence regarding its effects on DLBP. As presented in
Figures3and4,PEDTAappearstobehighlyeffectiveincertain
cases. Due to its minimal invasiveness, PEDTA could become the
gold standard surgical procedure for DLBP associated with HIZs,
following meticulous clinical and basic studies.
CONCLUSION
HIZ is not merely a feature of disc degeneration in MR images ;
we consider it to be an important sign of painful intervertebral disc
disruption, if identified precisely based on factors such as loca-
tion and intensity. With advances in MR imaging techniques and
minimally invasive surgical techniques, further studies are essen-
tial for clarifying the controversies regarding the diagnostic sig-
nificance and management of HIZs.
CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interests in
relation to the article.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The manuscript submitted does not contain information about
medical device(s)/drug(s).
No funds were received in support of this work.
Figure 3. (a) Sagittal and (b) Axial T2 - weighted MR images showing
HIZs at the L4- 5 level (arrows).
Figure 4. (a and c) Sagittal and (b and d) axial T2- weighted MR images of the lumbar spine of a professional baseball player. (a and b) MR im-
ages at presentation, showing a herniated nucleus pulposus at the L3 -4 and L4 -5, with additional HIZs at the L4- 5 level (arrows). (c and d) Subse-
quent MR examination performed after 10 months showed increased intensity of HIZs at the L4- 5 level (arrows).
The Journal of Medical Investigation Vol. 63 February 2016 5
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The Journal of Medical Investigation Vol. 63 February 2016 7
... There have been reports of FESS with thermal annuloplasty for patients with an HIZ [10]. Similarly, we performed thermal annuloplasty under these conditions and achieved good results. ...
... Since Aprill's discovery of the HIZ, scholars have conducted research around the HIZ, and by comparing MRI and discography, they have disagreed with the HIZ, and the debate about the role and significance of the HIZ has continued. Jha SC [44] [45] and other scholars believe that HIZ is an imaging sign of disc annulus fibrosus tear and DLBP, and point out that a single-segment disc with low signal on MRI and HIZ behind the annulus fibrosus is likely to be the source of the pain symptoms. Horton W [46] and others found that discs with neither signal reduction nor HIZ changes could be excluded as a source of pain in 95% of discs. ...
Article
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Objective The correlation between high-intensity zone (HIZ) of lumbar disc magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and discogenic low back pain (DLBP) is currently controversial, this study aimed to systematically evaluate the correlation between HIZ of lumbar disc MRI and positive discography, as well as its diagnostic value for DLBP. Method Databases were searched to include research literature on high intensity zone (HIZ) related to discography and DLBP diagnosis. HIZ is a separate small, confined area of high signal located at the posterior border of the annulus fibrosus on MRI T2-weighted images of the lumbar spine, which is separated from the nucleus pulposus but has a higher signal than the nucleus pulposus. Studies on the correlation of HIZ with discography and DLBP diagnosis were searched in the Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, Science Direct, China Knowledge Network, Wanfang Database, and China Biomedical Literature Databases, Scopus from January 1992 to June 2024. The outcomes were diagnostic values of HIZ for DLBP. The risk assessment was performed by Deeks’ funnel methods in the Stata 17.0 software after 2 investigators independently screened the literature, extracted information and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies. Results A total of 25 studies including 5889 patients were included. meta-analysis showed that the sensitivity of HIZ for the diagnosis of DLBP was (0.49, 95% CI [0.37,0.61]) and specificity was (0.89, 95% CI [0.85,0.93]); the positive likelihood ratio was (4.52, 95% CI [3.28,6.25]) and the negative likelihood ratio was (0.58, 95% CI [0.46,0.71]). The diagnostic ratio was (7.87, 95% CI [5.05,12.26]). Conclusion The available evidence suggests that HIZ has acceptable sensitivity and high specificity in the diagnosis of DLBP. Due to the limitation of the number and quality of included studies, the above conclusions need to be validated by more high-quality studies.
... A nagy intenzitású zóna diagnosztikus értéke fájdalomforrásként discogen ágyéki derékfájdalom esetén viszonylag nagy [41]. Ugyanakkor tünetmentes betegek harmadában-felében is kimutathatók nagy intenzítású zónák az ágyéki discusokban [42], ebből fakadóan a nagy intenzitású zóna és az ágyéki derékfájdalom kapcsolata továbbra is ellentmondásos [43]. ...
Article
Full-text available
Az ágyéki derékfájdalom világszerte a munkaképes korú populáció fogyatékosságának egyik fő oka, jelentős költségeket róva az egészségügyi rendszerekre. A fájdalom eredete a leggyakrabban az intervertebralis discus degenerációjára vezethető vissza. Ennek ellenére a fájdalom eredetének meghatározása az egyik legnagyobb kihívás a mindennapi orvosi gyakorlatban. Az intervertebralis porckorong morfológiája pontos jellemzésének képességével a mágnesesrezonancia-képalkotás (MRI) a leggyakrabban javallt és legfontosabb képalkotó diagnosztikai vizsgálat a derékfájásban szenvedő betegeknél. A derékfájás okának meghatározása azonban bonyolult. Számos különböző képi jellemző társulhat a derékfájáshoz, melyek gyakran derékfájás nélkül is jelen lehetnek. Az elmúlt években több MRI-szekvenciát fejlesztettek ki a deréktáji fájdalom eredetének diagnosztizálására. Közleményünkben áttekintjük a legújabb MRI-módszereket, amelyek képesek az intervertebralis discusok összetételében bekövetkező biokémiai változások jellemzésére. Ezek az eljárások segítséget jelenthetnek a discus degenerációjának és az ágyéki gerincfájdalom kapcsolatának pontos felderítésében. Orv Hetil. 2024; 165(32): 1227–1236.
... These reports support the notion that location of the HIZ may be the main lesion for inflammation that causes pain in symptomatic patients, thus making it the direct target of delivery of local anesthetics and steroids by percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis, which may contribute to the superior outcome 22,23 . ...
... Since Aprill's discovery of the HIZ, many scholars have studied the area surrounding the HIZ via comparisons of MRI and discography, and their understanding of the HIZ has not been consistent; moreover, there have been debates about its role and significance. Some scholars consider the HIZ as an imaging marker for disc fibrous annulus tears and discogenic lower back pain [7][8][9][10]. The presence of HIZ in a single-segment disc with posterior annulus fibrosus on MRI can more reliably indicate that the disc is the source of pain, and neither low disc signal nor HIZ changes can 95% exclude the disc as the source of pain [11]. ...
Article
Full-text available
Objective This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the MRI high-intensity zone (HIZ) and the pathogenesis of discogenic low back pain. Methods Literature from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, China Knowledge Network, Wanfang Database, and China Biomedical Literature Database was searched until August 2023. Cohort studies including patients with low back pain who underwent lumbar spine MRI and discography, as well as the results evaluating the correlation between HIZ and discography for morphological changes in the disc and pain replication phenomena, were included in the analysis. The literature that met the inclusion criteria was screened, and the methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated. Meta-analysis of the extracted data was performed by using RevMan 5.1.1. Results In total, 28 reports were included in this meta-analysis. There was a statistically significant correlation between a positive HIZ and abnormal disc morphology in discography (OR 28.15, 95% CI [7.38, 107.46], p < 0.00001). Patients with HIZ-positive discs had a significantly higher incidence of consistent pain (71.0%, 969/1365) than those with HIZ-negative imaging (29.0%, 1314/4524) (OR 7.71, 95% CI [5.29, 11.23], p < 0.00001).Segments that were HIZ-positive and had abnormal disc morphology had a higher incidence of consistent pain (86.1%, 230/267) than HIZ-negative subjects (32.2%, 75/233) (OR 14.09, 95% CI [2.12, 93.48], p = 0.006). Conclusion A positive MRI T2-weighted image of the lumbar disc with HIZ indicates disc degeneration. In addition, HIZ may be a specific indicator for the physical diagnosis of discogenic low back pain. A more advanced degree of disc degeneration on the basis of HIZ positivity corresponded to a greater probability of discography-induced consistent pain, whereas the degree of disc degeneration on the basis of HIZ negativity was less correlated with contrast-induced consistent pain.
Article
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Low back pain (LBP) is a very common entity, now regarded as the first cause of disability worldwide. Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration leads to posterior rupture annulus fibrosus (AF) with extrusion of Central Nucleus pulposus (NP) through the injured area which has little potential to repair as it has no blood supply and causes mechanical pressure and inflammatory changes in the nerve root causing LBP. Autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) contain concentrate blood that contain a natural concentration of autologous growth factors and cytokines and currently widely used in the clinical setting for tissue regeneration and repair. PRP had great potential to stimulate cell proliferation and metabolic activity of IVD effectively restoring structural change, improving matrix integrity, IVD regeneration, reducing discogenic back pain. Our Study of 10 cases, where repeat or re-exploration surgery (after primary PLID Surgery, fenestration and discectomy) was done, where removal of recurrent disc 5, release of epidural fibrosis and perineural scarring 4 and surgical debridement for discitis 1 was done. In addition, PRP was given in the disc space & around the nerve root which provides lots of growth factor, cytokines which helps in disc regeneration and prevent adhesion & fibrosis. These dual actions enhance symptomatic recovery of all cases. Large scale studies may be required to confirm the clinical evidence of PRP for the treatment of discogenic LBP Bang. J Neurosurgery 2024; 13(2): 70-74
Chapter
Low back pain is a fairly common symptom in the general population associated with disability and alterations in lifestyle. This symptom also can become chronic, causing more negative changes in the lives of people who suffer from it. However, despite being perceived by the patient clearly, its etiological diagnosis is challenging, and in the vast majority of cases, it is difficult to find the specific origin of low back pain. Despite this circumstance, when the spine surgeon has discovered the cause of chronic low back pain in the intervertebral disc through an exhaustive clinical and radiological search, full-endoscopic procedures can be helpful in treatment before deciding between a lumbar fusion. This chapter reviews discogenic low back pain and the transforaminal endoscopic technique for annuloplasty and nucleoplasty as a therapeutic option.KeywordsAnnuloplastyBack painDiscogenic painEndoscopyLumbar
Chapter
Diagnosing and treating annulogenic, discogenic low back pain is still challenging. Although various intradiscal and extradiscal minimally invasive interventions have been introduced, neither procedure alone seems sufficient for success because each has limitations and risks. Transforaminal epiduroscopic laser annuloplasty (TELA) and percutaneous endoscopic lumbar annuloplasty and nucleoplasty (PELAN) are new techniques which combine transforaminal endoscopy with laser technologies. Direct visualization of spinal canal pathoanatomy and reproduction of the patient’s usual pain by directly stimulating the suspected pain generator under endoscopic guidance improves diagnostic accuracy substantially. Precise application of a laser under direct vision greatly enhances the safety and efficacy of discoplasty. TELA is essentially an extradiscal procedure intended to denervate the sensitized nociceptive nerves in the posterior annulus fibrosus, and simultaneous intradiscal ablation can be performed. PELAN is an intra-annular procedure that directly target the granulation tissue in internal annular disruption. Transforaminal endoscopic discoplasty might be a reasonable second-line treatment option for symptomatic lumbar spine annular tears and herniated nucleus pulposus.KeywordsDiscogenic low back painInternal annular disruptionTransforaminal epiduroscopic laser annuloplastyEndoscopic discoplastyAnnuloplastyNucleoplastyExtradiscal procedure
Chapter
Facet (or zygapophyseal) joint-related pain is common in patients with a spinal disorder and occurs secondary to either facet joint wear and tear (degenerative change) or injury [1–4]. Pain secondary to facet joint pathology is not restricted to the facet joint; it can also spread to surrounding areas (i.e., referred pain) [5–7] (Fig. 4.1). Medial branch nerves are small nerves that feed out from the facet joints in the spine and transfer pain signals from the facet joints to the brain [8]. The medial branches of the dorsal rami innervate the facet joints, the posterior arches of the vertebrae, and certain spinal muscles (multifidus muscles) [9]. Of these, the facet joints are the only structure that can cause pain. Initially, a medial branch block was used to determine whether a patient’s source of pain was of facet joint origin; however, several previous studies found that these blocks also reduce pain. Thus, MBNB are also used to alleviate facet joint-related pain.
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A prospective observational study on 113 patients with 3 years of follow-up. To evaluate the clinical results of therapy for discogenic low back pain (DLBP) with posterolateral transforaminal selective endoscopic diskectomy and thermal annuloplasty (PEDTA). Currently, various minimally invasive techniques are widely used to treat chronic DLBP with variable clinical outcomes. PEDTA is considered to be a novel, minimally invasive technique for treating chronic DLBP, but the evidence supporting this technique is very limited, and there are no studies demonstrating at least 3 years of follow-up. One hundred thirteen consecutive patients with DLBP with positive concordant pain in discography underwent PEDTA from March 2008 to March 2010. These patients included 64 males and 49 females with a mean age of 43.7 years (range, 16-75 yr). The visual analogue scale score, Japanese Orthopedic Association score, and Oswestry Disability Index were evaluated before therapy and each year after surgery. The clinical global outcomes were assessed on the basis of modified MacNab criteria at 3 years after surgery. Ninety-six patients underwent a single-level procedure, and 17 patients underwent multilevel procedures. One hundred one (89.4%) cases were followed up for 3 years. There were no serious complications observed during follow-up. The success rate (excellent and good) was 73.8%. The visual analogue scale score, Japanese Orthopedic Association score and Oswestry Disability Index had significantly improved at each year after surgery (P < 0.01, compared with presurgery). The success rate in patients who underwent a single-level procedure was remarkably higher than that in patients who underwent multilevel procedures (78.2% vs. 50.0%, P = 0.041). PEDTA presents a safe and effective treatment for carefully selected groups of patients with DLBP. Better clinical results occurred in patients with single-level discogenic pain.Level of Evidence: 4.
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A 32-year-old man underwent radiofrequency thermal annuloplasty (TA) with percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED) under local anesthesia for chronic low back pain. His diagnosis was discogenic pain with a high signal intensity zone (HIZ) in the posterior corner of the L4-5 disc. Flexion pain was sporadic, and steroid injection was given twice for severe pain. After the third episode of strong pain, PED and TA were conducted. The discoscope was inserted into the posterior annulus and revealed a migrated white nucleus pulposus which was stained blue. Then, after moving the discoscope to the site of the HIZ, a migrated slightly red nucleus pulposus was found, suggesting inflammation and/or new vessels penetrating the mass. After removing the fragment, the HIZ site was ablated by TA. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the discoscopic findings of HIZ of the lumbar intervertebral disc.
Article
Purpose The aims were to investigate if the detection of high-intensity zones (HIZ) is affected by axial load, and to study the correlation between HIZ and discogenic pain provoked with pressure controlled discography (PCD).
Article
Study Design: The study compared the presence of the high‐intensity zone on magnetic resonance imaging with the results of awake discography. Objectives: To see if there was a correlation between the results of awake discography and the presence of a high‐intensity zone on magnetic resonance imaging. Summary of Background Data: The evaluation of discogenic pain has proved to be somewhat elusive. Recent studies have indicated the high‐intensity zone as being highly sensitive in the diagnosis of the painful discogenic segment. The present study was designed to investigate whether the presence of a high‐intensity zone is associated with a concordant pain response on awake discography. Methods: Magnetic resonance images were obtained in 29 patients with low back pain with and without radiculopathy. Consecutive patients were considered for surgical intervention after failing to respond to conservative treatment. The presence of a high‐intensity zone was specifically looked for within the posterior anulus. Each patient subsequently underwent awake discography with computed tomography. Computed tomography was classified according to the Dallas Discogram Scale and the presence of a concordant pain response. Chi‐square analysis was used to calculate the presence of a high‐intensity zone versus disc disruption and the correlation of high‐intensity zone and concordant pain response. Results: There was no statistically significant correlation between the presence of a high‐intensity zone and a concordant pain response at any level. The high‐intensity zone was, however, never seen in a morphologically normal disc. Conclusions: Although the high‐intensity zone is present within the posterior anulus of some abnormal discs, it is not necessarily associated with a concordant pain response.
Article
Minimally invasive percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED) with a transforaminal approach under local anesthesia was started in the late 20th century. As the procedure requires a skin incision of only 8 mm, it is the least invasive disc surgery procedure at present, and owing to advances in instruments and optics, the use of this technique has gradually spread. In Japan, Dr. Dezawa from Teikyo University Mizonokuchi Hospital introduced this technique in 2003. Thanks to his efforts, the number of surgeons who can perform PED has increased, although the number of active PED surgeons is still only around 20. The first author (K.S.) started PED in 2010. In this review article, we explain the state-of-the-art PED transforaminal technique for minimally invasive disc surgery and present three successful cases. J. Med. Invest. 61: 217-225, August, 2014.
Article
The high-intensity zone (HIZ) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been studied for more than 20 years, but its diagnostic value in low back pain (LBP) is limited by the high incidence in asymptomatic subjects. Little effort has been made to improve the objective assessment of HIZ. To develop quantitative measurements for HIZ and estimate intra- and interobserver reliability and to clarify different signal intensity of HIZ in patients with or without LBP. A measurement reliability and prospective comparative study. A consecutive series of patients with LBP between June 2010 and May 2011 (group A) and a successive series of asymptomatic controls during the same period (group B). Incidence of HIZ; quantitative measures, including area of disc, area and signal intensity of HIZ, and magnetic resonance imaging index; and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for intra- and interobserver reliability. On the basis of HIZ criteria, a series of quantitative dimension and signal intensity measures was developed for assessing HIZ. Two experienced spine surgeons traced the region of interest twice within 4 weeks for assessment of the intra- and interobserver reliability. The quantitative variables were compared between groups A and B. There were 72 patients with LBP and 79 asymptomatic controls enrolling in this study. The prevalence of HIZ in group A and group B was 45.8% and 20.2%, respectively. The intraobserver agreement was excellent for the quantitative measures (ICC=0.838-0.977) as well as interobserver reliability (ICC=0.809-0.935). The mean signal of HIZ in group A was significantly brighter than in group B (57.55±14.04% vs. 45.61±7.22%, p=.000). There was no statistical difference of area of disc and HIZ between the two groups. The magnetic resonance imaging index was found to be higher in group A when compared with group B (3.94±1.71 vs. 3.06±1.50), but with a p value of .050. A series of quantitative measurements for HIZ was established and demonstrated excellent intra- and interobserver reliability. The signal intensity of HIZ was different in patients with or without LBP, and significant brighter signal was observed in symptomatic subjects.