Pfirrmann grade
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 1-to-5 grading of how worn a spinal disc looks on MRI, based on how bright and how tall it is. It grades the picture of the disc, and a high grade is common with age — it does not by itself measure pain.
Where you’ll see this
The findings of a spine MRI report, disc by disc.
Your report may word it “Pfirrmann classification” or “Disc degeneration grade”. 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.