Table 1.

Parameters Suggested for Radiologic Diagnosis of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis in a Consensus Conference¹⁰

	Qualitative	Quantitative
Central stenosis	Hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum Disc pathology Relation between fluid and cauda equina∗ Compromise of the central zone∗ Reduction of posterior epidural fat Epidural lipomatosis Redundant nerve roots of the cauda equina Sedimentation sign	AP diameter of the spinal canal AP diameter of the contrast column (myelography) AP diameter of the thecal sac Compression of the thecal sac area in percent of normal mid-sagittal diameter Cross-sectional area of the dural sac Ligamentous interfacet distance Transverse diameter of the spinal canal
Lateral stenosis	Compression of the subarticular area Nerve root compression in the lateral recess∗	Lateral recess height Depth of lateral recess Lateral recess angle
Foraminal stenosis	Foraminal nerve root impingement∗ Size and shape of the foramen Hypertrophic facet joint degeneration Compromise of the foraminal zone∗ Perineural intraforaminal fat	Foraminal diameter

Only the qualitative parameters with ∗ are accepted as reliable and reached a consensus.

AP, anteroposterior.