MRI report terms
Plain-language explanations of the words radiologists use — foraminal narrowing, Modic changes, Pfirrmann grading, and more.
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Spine and MRI education
Plain-language answers to spine MRI questions.
Surgeon-written guides to MRI terminology, common spine conditions, and treatment options — with clear explanations of what your imaging report is, and is not, saying.
Browse the library
Three places most patients start.
The library is organized into three reading paths, depending on whether you're trying to decode a report, understand a diagnosis, or compare treatments.
Conditions
Surgeon-written guides on disc herniation, spinal stenosis, sciatica, cervical radiculopathy, and other common diagnoses.
Browse conditionsTreatments
What patients should know about physical therapy, injections, microdiscectomy, fusion, disc replacement, and how surgeons think about choosing between them.
Browse treatments
Why this site exists
Why MRI reports are hard to understand.
Spine MRI reports are written for doctors, not patients. They often contain terms like foraminal narrowing, disc protrusion, stenosis, Modic changes, and nerve impingement — but the report usually does not explain which findings matter, which are common age-related changes, or how they relate to your symptoms.
SpineClarity helps translate those terms into plain language so you can better understand your report and prepare for a more informed conversation with your clinician.
If you want help applying this information to your own MRI report and symptoms, SpineClarity also offers a written MRI Review.
Common MRI report terms
Start with the words on your report.
A few of the terms that appear most often in lumbar and cervical MRI reports.
Neural foraminal narrowing
When a nerve's exit tunnel is narrowed.
Lateral recess stenosis
Tightness where a nerve root sits before it exits.
Modic changes
Signal changes in the bone next to a disc.
Disc bulge vs. protrusion vs. extrusion
Three different things that often get confused.
L4–L5
The disc level most often involved in low-back pain.
Central canal stenosis
Narrowing of the main spinal canal — mild to severe grades explained.
Lumbar spinal stenosis
Narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back.
Cervical disc herniation
A neck-level disc pressing on a nerve or the cord.
A note on how spine surgeons read imaging
MRI findings only matter when they match the patient.
An MRI report describes anatomy. It does not, by itself, prove what is causing pain. The goal of these articles is to explain how spine surgeons think about the relationship between imaging, symptoms, nerve patterns, and treatment options — because that context is often missing from generic patient information online.
- Level Level matters. A finding at L4–L5 affects different nerves than the same finding at L5–S1.
- Side Side matters. A right-sided finding rarely explains left-sided symptoms, and vice versa.
- Symptoms Symptoms and exam matter. Imaging is one input. The pattern of pain, weakness, or numbness is another.
"In spine care, the question is rarely, 'Is the MRI abnormal?' The better question is, 'Which finding, if any, explains the patient's symptoms?'"
About this site
Written by a board-certified spine neurosurgeon.
Written by Ifije Ohiorhenuan, MD, PhD, a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in spine surgery and complex spine conditions.
SpineClarity is designed to help patients understand the language of spine MRI reports before or after a clinical visit. It does not replace evaluation by a physician.
Board-certified
Fellowship-trained
Academic spine surgeon
Questions or feedback? Email contact@spineclarity.com.
Optional service
For readers who want a personalized written explanation of their own MRI report and symptoms, SpineClarity also offers a paid written MRI review.
Learn more about the MRI review →
Common questions
Questions readers ask first.
Who is SpineClarity for?
Patients with neck or back symptoms, patients who have just received an MRI report, and family members trying to make sense of one. The articles are written in plain language and assume no medical background.
Will the articles tell me what is wrong with me?
No. The articles explain what terms and findings mean in general, not what they mean for your specific case. Imaging findings only have meaning in the context of an in-person history and exam.
Does using SpineClarity replace seeing a doctor?
No. The goal is to help patients prepare for clinical conversations, not replace them. SpineClarity does not provide diagnosis or treatment.
Is this for emergencies?
No. If you have new weakness, bowel or bladder changes, saddle numbness, fever with severe spine pain, major trauma, or rapidly worsening symptoms, seek urgent medical care.
When are spine symptoms urgent?
Some symptoms need urgent evaluation regardless of what an MRI report says: new weakness in the legs or arms, loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the groin or saddle area, fever with severe spine pain, recent major trauma, or rapidly worsening neurologic symptoms. If you have any of these, seek emergency care.
Do you offer a paid service?
Yes. SpineClarity offers an optional written MRI review for patients who want a personalized explanation of their own report.
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