Table 5.

CT value changes (ΔCT value) of the MC regions adjacent to discs with different degrees of degeneration.

ΔCT value (HU)	Grade III	Grade IV	Grade V
Bone marrow area	138.25±75.08	90.16±103.93	114.23±100.62
Endplate	118.10±102.48	41.96±117.56	97.14±116.63∗

∗: P=0.0150 (IV compared with V, two-way ANOVA and LSD test). The ΔCT value of the endplate was significantly different between grade IV and V disc degeneration. No significant difference was found in the ΔCT value of bone marrow area between the various degrees of disc degeneration (P=0.3746).