Evaluation of Cervical Disc problems using plain X-ray and MRI

Abstract

The study was conducted at Omdurman Military Hospital during the period from June to December 2009, to evaluate the cervical disc problems using conventional X-ray and MRI. Cervical spine X-rays and MRI images were obtained from fifty patients. For analysis of both x rays and MRI findings, the data were first summarized into data master sheet, and then analyzed by using simple statistical method, The collected data were compared and the result showed, mild different between male and female who had been examined, disc prolapsed and spondylosis often affects the cervical spine in people at the age of 41-60 years, X-ray cannot detect disc herniation while MRI revealed them by 38% of cases. X-ray cannot detect disc bulge while MRI revealed them by 10% of cases. spondylosis was significantly better by X-ray (32 %) than MRI (14%). degenerations can be detected by both modalities by (20%). In conclusion, both modalities are important in the evaluation of cervical disc problems.