Table 1.

Grading System for Cervical Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Grade	Nucleus signal intensity	Nucleus structure	Distinction of nucleus and annulus	Disc height
I	Hyperintense	Homogenous, white	Clear	Normal
II	Hyperintense	Inhomogenous with horizontal band, white	Clear	Normal
III	Intermediate	Inhomogenous, gray to black	Unclear	Normal to decreased
IV	Hypointense	Inhomogenous, gray to black	Lost	Normal to decreased
V	Hypointense	Inhomogenous, gray to black	Lost	Collapsed