Degenerative disk disorders

CT is widely used to detect disk protusions and herniations. In clinical situations dealing with sciatic pain, CT is the preferred modality, because it is fast and much used world-wide. CT can be combined with injection of contrast media into the subarachnoid space (CT-myelography) for improved detection of pathology.

MRI is in most cases equal to or better than ordinary CT (probably the same sensitivity as CT-myelography)

Ordinary X-ray and NM examinations cannot rule out degenerative disk disorder reliably.