Imaging of spinal column degenerative disease

Degenerative diseases of the spine are one of the main sources of back pain especially in the elderly. In a systematic approach for interpretation of spinal images we divide the spine into anterior structures including vertebral bodies and the intervertebral discs and in the other hand more posterior structures and explain their pathologies separately. Degenerative involvement of anterior structures leads to alignment abnormality, osteophyte formation, endplate changes, uncovertebral joint hypertrophy and discopathy. While in the posterior elements, degenerative processes can appear as facet joint hypertrophy and ligamentous abnormalities. All of the mentioned pathologies have distinct radiological findings.