138 patients with low back pain and/or associated radiating pain were studied with 1.5 tesla surface coil magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) from August 1989 to June 1992. And the findings of MRI were compared with clinical and simple M-ray findings.

The results were as follows:

1) In 138 cases of lumbar MRI, herniated intervertebral disc(HIVD) were 100 cases, spinal stenosis were 17 cases, normal findings were 14 cases degenerative changes only in the disk were 5 cases, annular tear were 3 cases.

2) In 100 cases of HIVD.

(1) MR classification of HIVD by severity was bulging disc 25 cases, protruded disc 43 cases, extrude4d disc 24 cases and sequestered disc 8 cases.

(2) Bulging discs were predominantly found in females, but a higher degree of severity was found in males.

(3) The associated radiating pains were well correlated with the severity of HIVD.

(4) The motor weakness was also well correlated with the severity of HIVD.

(5) The age, SLR, and sensory abnormality were not showed any correlation with the severity of the HIVD.

(6) There was no correlation between the lesion site in MRI and the site of intervertebral space narrowing in simple X-ray.

(7) There was no correlation between the number of lesion in MRI and the clinical findings.