Table 2.
All Pfirrmann grades of disc degeneration at each disc levels
| Level | Grade | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| C2–3 | 6 (0.9) | 54 (8.3) | 318 (48.7) | 269 (41.2) | 6 (0.9) |
| C3–4 | 1 (0.2) | 49 (7.5) | 317 (48.5) | 279 (42.7) | 7 (1.1) |
| C4–5 | 3 (0.5) | 60 (9.2) | 312 (47.8) | 265 (40.6) | 13 (2.0) |
| C5–6 | 2 (0.3) | 45 (6.9) | 270 (41.3) | 275 (42.1) | 61 (9.3) |
| C6–7 | 3 (0.5) | 93 (14.2) | 262 (40.1) | 259 (39.7) | 36 (5.5) |
| C7–T1 | 6 (0.9) | 167 (25.6) | 303 (46.4) | 170 (26.0) | 7 (1.1) |
| T1–2 | 2 (0.3) | 148 (22.7) | 346 (53.0) | 150 (23.0) | 7 (1.1) |
| T2–3 | 1 (0.2) | 144 (22.1) | 344 (52.7) | 161 (24.7) | 3 (0.5) |
| T3–4 | 1 (0.2) | 126 (19.3) | 340 (52.1) | 179 (27.4) | 7 (1.1) |
| T4–5 | 1 (0.2) | 128 (19.6) | 319 (48.9) | 193 (29.6) | 12 (1.8) |
| T5–6 | 1 (0.2) | 125 (19.1) | 315 (48.2) | 201 (30.8) | 11 (1.7) |
| T6–7 | 0 (0) | 139 (21.3) | 315 (48.2) | 192 (29.4) | 7 (1.1) |
| T7–8 | 0 (0) | 139 (21.3) | 344 (52.7) | 161 (24.7) | 3 (0.5) |
| T8–9 | 1 (0.2) | 155 (23.7) | 354 (54.2) | 137 (21.0) | 5 (0.8) |
| T9–10 | 1 (0.2) | 170 (26.0) | 359 (55.0) | 120 (18.4) | 7 (1.1) |
| T10–11 | 2 (0.3) | 184 (28.2) | 359 (55.0) | 101 (15.5) | 3 (0.5) |
| T11–12 | 2 (0.3) | 216 (33.1) | 354 (54.2) | 76 (11.6) | 6 (0.9) |
| T12–L1 | 1 (0.2) | 227 (34.8) | 366 (56.0) | 56 (8.6) | 9 (1.4) |
| L1–2 | 0 (0) | 222 (34.0) | 333 (31.0) | 78 (11.9) | 20 (3.1) |
| L2–3 | 0 (0) | 197 (29.7) | 307 (47.0) | 122 (18.7) | 30 (4.6) |
| L3–4 | 0 (0) | 160 (24.5) | 284 (43.5) | 187 (28.6) | 22 (3.4) |
| L4–5 | 0 (0) | 82 (12.6) | 202 (30.9) | 302 (46.2) | 67 (10.3) |
| L5–S1 | 0 (0) | 71 (10.9) | 201 (30.8) | 313 (47.9) | 68 (10.4) |
Values are presented as number (%)
Grade 1, normal shape, no horizontal bands, clear distinction of nucleus and annulus; grade 2, nonhomogeneous shape with horizontal bands, some blurring between nucleus and annulus; grade 3, nonhomogeneous shape with blurring between nucleus and annulus, annulus shape still recognizable; grade 4, nonhomogeneous shape with hypointensity, annulus shape not intact and distinction between nucleus and annulus impossible, disc height usually decreased; grade 5, same as grade 4 but with collapsed disc space.