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MRI · L4-L5 disc space

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38%Significant

Result summary

4 findings in this reading

Severity reflects the AI reading's own wording — it is not a diagnosis, and not your radiologist's opinion.

New or worsening symptoms? Contact your doctor promptly, whatever this summary says.

Findings

  • L4-L5 disc space

    high confidence
    Significant

    There is marked narrowing of the L4-L5 intervertebral disc space with loss of normal T2 hyperintense nucleus pulposus signal, representing the most significant finding of this series due to the degree of structural collapse compared to the L3-L4 level. A diffuse posterior disc bulge is present, which mildly indents the anterior aspect of the dural sac.

  • L4 and L5 vertebral endplates

    high confidence
    Significant

    The inferior endplate of L4 and superior endplate of L5 show extensive, confluent bone marrow signal alterations. These areas appear hypointense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images, consistent with inflammatory subchondral marrow edema adjacent to the degenerated disc.

  • L5-S1 disc space

    high confidence
    Needs attention

    The L5-S1 intervertebral disc shows mild loss of height and T2 signal intensity compared to the upper lumbar levels, along with a mild posterior disc bulge that abuts the anterior epidural space without causing significant canal stenosis.

  • No abnormality seen

    high confidence · not localized
    Normal

    On these slices, no abnormality was seen in: the conus medullaris, the cauda equina nerve roots, the L1-L2, L2-L3, and L3-L4 disc heights and signals, or the posterior element bony structures.

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Issued: 2026-10-02

Patient:
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Exam no.:
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Archive:
7CF5E5BA
Exam date:
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Examination:
MRI

This document was generated by artificial intelligence from the scan images. It is an explanatory aid, NOT a diagnosis and NOT a substitute for a radiologist report. Always discuss it with your doctor.

MRI

Whole-exam read: 3 of 3 series, 3 representative slices in total.

Findings

  • 1.The L4-L5 disc space shows marked narrowing, and the disc has lost the bright T2 signal that a well-hydrated disc normally has — both are signs that this disc has worn down. A broad bulge of the disc toward the back is described, which gently presses on the front of the sac that holds the spinal nerves. This was described on every independent reading of these images.
  • 2.The neighbouring edges of L4 and L5 — the bony surfaces (endplates) just above and below this disc — show widespread signal changes in the bone marrow. The pattern seen (darker on the T1 setting and brighter on the T2 setting) is often linked to inflammation and fluid build-up in the bone next to a worn disc. This was described on every independent reading of these images.
  • 3.The L5-S1 disc space shows mild loss of height and some loss of its bright T2 signal, along with a mild bulge toward the back that reaches the space just in front of the nerve area. On these images this was noted without a significant narrowing of the spinal canal. This was described on every independent reading of these images.
  • 4.The reading also looked at the lower end of the spinal cord (conus medullaris), the bundle of nerve roots below it (cauda equina), the discs at L1-L2, L2-L3 and L3-L4, and the bony structures at the back of the spine — and did not see an abnormality in any of these on the slices provided. This means the reading looked and did not find a problem there, which is not the same as confirming these structures are perfectly sound. This was noted on every independent reading of these images.

Impression

In short, the images show wear and bulging of the two lowest discs in your lower back, with inflammation-type changes in the bone beside one of them; only 3 images were reviewed, so your doctor should read this together with a full scan and your symptoms.

The overall picture is of wear-type changes at the two lowest disc levels (L4-L5 and L5-S1), with disc narrowing, loss of disc water content, and disc bulging at both. The bone next to the L4-L5 disc shows signal changes often associated with inflammation in that area, described alongside the disc wear. The disc bulges described touch or gently indent the space around the nerve sac, but on these images a significant narrowing of the spinal canal was not reported. This set of 3 images is limited: it cannot show everything a full MRI series would, and imaging findings do not by themselves explain how much pain a person feels. A radiologist and your own doctor are the people who can connect these images to your symptoms.

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Read Your Scan

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For the patient

Questions for your doctor

  • 1.The disc and bone changes — do the findings at L4-L5 and L5-S1 fit with where and how I feel my pain?
  • 2.The marrow signal changes near L4-L5 — what do they mean for me, and do they change how my pain might be managed?
  • 3.A fuller MRI series — since only 3 images were reviewed here, would a complete study add information worth having?
  • 4.The treatments tried so far — given that two months of anti-inflammatories, painkillers and physiotherapy have not helped, what other options or referrals are reasonable to consider?
  • 5.The severity of my pain — are there warning signs I should watch for that would mean I need to be seen urgently?

This is an automated, informational explanation of your imaging — not a medical diagnosis, and not a substitute for a licensed radiologist or your doctor. If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care.

Document generated automatically by artificial intelligence. It carries no medical-legal value, is not signed by a physician and does not replace the radiology report issued by the facility that performed the exam.

Document no.: 7CF5E5BA · Issued: 2026-10-02 15:02 UTC

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