Modic changes
Read Your Scan Editorial Team·Last updated
Written from published radiology references and reviewed for plain language. Not written or signed by a physician, and not a diagnosis. How we write these pages →
In plain language
A three-type description of changes in the bone directly above and below a spinal disc, seen on MRI. The types describe what the marrow has been replaced by — inflammation, fat, or dense bone — and are a common finding in backs that have been worn for years.
Where you’ll see this
The findings of a lumbar or cervical spine MRI report.
Your report may word it “Modic type I”, “Modic type II” or “Endplate changes”. These mean the same thing.
Questions worth asking your doctor
- What category did I get, and what does that category normally lead to?
- What is the recommended next step for this category — waiting, another scan, or a biopsy?
- Who decides the timing, and what should I do if my symptoms change before then?
Standard scoring systems
Where this word comes up
See this word on your own scan
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Read Your Scan is informational only — not a medical diagnosis, and not a substitute for a licensed radiologist or your doctor. If you have urgent symptoms, seek care.