MRI of the lumbar spine shows no high-grade narrowing of the spinal canal or nerve exit openings. There is a small disc herniation at T10-T11 and small posterior disc bulges at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1, with some mild to moderate narrowing of the nerve passages at the lower lumbar levels.
Severity reflects your radiologist's own wording — not an AI judgment.
New or worsening symptoms? Contact your doctor promptly, whatever this summary says.
Disc desiccation L5-S1 with mild disc space narrowing. Remaining disc spaces are preserved.
In plain words: The lowest disc has lost some water content (drying out) and is slightly thinner — a common mild wear-and-tear change. The other discs keep their normal height.
Small left posterior medial disc herniation deforming the dural sac (image 54 series 6).
In plain words: A small portion of disc material pushes backward at this mid-back level and slightly presses on the sac that surrounds the spinal cord and nerves.
Small posterior disc bulge of 2 mm flattening the thecal sac. Mild left greater than right foraminal stenosis with impingement of the exiting L3 nerve roots.
In plain words: The disc bulges slightly backward and flattens the fluid-filled sac around the nerves. The nerve exit opening is mildly narrowed, more on the left, gently pressing on the L3 nerve.
Small posterior disc bulge of 4 mm flattening the thecal sac. Moderate lateral recess and foraminal stenosis bilaterally with impingement of the exiting L4 nerve roots bilaterally.
In plain words: The disc bulges backward and flattens the nerve sac. There is moderate narrowing on both sides of the spaces where the L4 nerves travel and exit, gently pressing on them.
Small posterior disc bulge of 3 mm with annular fissuring slightly abutting the thecal sac. Mild facet arthropathy with fluid within the facet joints bilaterally. Mild lateral recess and foraminal stenosis bilaterally with slight abutment of the inferior aspect of the exiting L5 nerve roots bilaterally.
In plain words: The disc bulges backward with a small crack in its outer ring and just touches the nerve sac. There is mild arthritis of the small spinal joints with some fluid, and mild narrowing of the nerve spaces lightly touching the L5 nerves on both sides.
Spinal alignment is normal. No evidence of occult fracture or marrow replacement process. Visualized spinal cord and conus medullaris are normal in size and signal intensity. Conus terminates at T12-L1.
In plain words: The spine is lined up normally, no hidden fracture or abnormal bone marrow, and the spinal cord and its lower tip look normal and end where expected.
No high-grade spinal canal or neural foraminal stenosis.
In plain words: No significant narrowing of the central spinal canal or the openings where nerves exit at this level.
No high-grade spinal canal or neural foraminal stenosis. Intervertebral disc is normal.
In plain words: This level looks normal, with no significant narrowing of the nerve spaces.
No high-grade spinal canal or neural foraminal stenosis. Intervertebral disc is normal.
In plain words: This level looks normal, with no significant narrowing of the nerve spaces.
The disc bulges impinge on the epidural fat. No other large focal disc herniation. No bony spinal stenosis.
In plain words: The bulging discs press into the fat cushion inside the canal, but there is no large disc rupture and no narrowing caused by bone.
Major flow voids are preserved. Paraspinal soft tissues are normal / unremarkable.
In plain words: Blood flow signals in the major vessels look normal, and the muscles and tissues alongside the spine appear normal.