MRI features of degenerative spinal changes in patients with chronic back

Abstract

Degenerative alterations of the spine are increasingly encountered due to population aging, sedentary lifestyles, and rising prevalence of obesity. These changes may affect intervertebral discs, vertebral endplates, facet joints, and surrounding ligamentous structures, resulting in chronic pain syndromes and neurological deficits. Conventional radiography has limited value in evaluating soft-tissue and neural structures, whereas Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides detailed visualization of both osseous and non-osseous components of the spine. MRI has therefore become the preferred modality for detecting the full spectrum of degenerative spinal pathology and guiding therapeutic management.