Persistent low back pain in a 70-year-old woman revealed Modic type 1 vertebral endplate changes via lumbar MRI. These changes, marked by altered marrow signals, are classified into three types. Type 1 shows inflammatory response, type 2 results from red to fatty marrow conversion, and type 3 indicates subchondral sclerosis. Research connects type 1 changes with back pain, sparking debate about their potential infectious origin. Diffusion imaging aids in distinguishing them from conditions like discitis. While traditional treatments include pain medication and therapy, recent studies explore antibiotic use. Understanding endplate changes can help guide back pain therapy.
For more information on this topic, see Dr. Alice Viroslav’s Web Clinic from May 2016: https://radsource.us/vertebral-endplate-changes/
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