{"id":"40c25371-e2c8-4115-9e59-e9ecfcd5dd12","slug":"comparison-of-computed-tomography-and-magnetic-resonance-imaging-findings-in-patients-with-lumbar-facet-joint-arthropathy","title":"Comparison of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with lumbar facet joint arthropathy","authors":["Ali Jafarpour","Mohadeseh Golshan","Hadi Majidi","Amir Azarhomayoun","Fatemeh Niksolat"],"abstract":"Background: Facet joint disease or arthropathy is one of the common causes of chronic low back pain. The aim of this study was to compare the results of computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs) of facet joint arthropathy in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: The present study was conducted as a cross-sectional-analytical study on patients with chronic low back pain suspected of facet joint disease from the rheumatology and neurosurgery clinics (from the start to the end of 2023). All patients underwent a CT scan and MRI studies. The degree of facet joint degeneration was evaluated utilizing CT-based Pathria criteria and for MRI, we utilized Grogan criteria. Results: A total of 80 patients were suspected of having lumbar facet joint arthropathy. They all underwent both CT and MRI imaging. Thirty-eight (47.5%) patients had a severe form of facet joint disease on CT scan. Furthermore, a similar number of patients had a severe form of facet joint disease on MRI. Mild subchondral cysts were present in 10 patients on CT and 21 on MRI (P = 0.05). The results of the CT scan and MRI significantly differed between the cases in each modality, based on the severity of disease (P < 0.05). Conclusion: CT scan and MRI studies showed similar results in diagnosing lumbar facet joint disease. Nevertheless, both studies are better when performed together, as they best establish the full extent and severity of lumbar facet pathology.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/40c25371-e2c8-4115-9e59-e9ecfcd5dd12/featured/hero-1781558305424.png","publishDate":"2025-10-03T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_866_2025","categories":["Spine","Original Article"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/13990/SNI-16-417.pdf"}