[Diagnostic imaging in lumbago and sciatica].

Low back pain and sciatica are among the most common medical problems in Western countries, affecting up to 80% of the population at some time during their lives. Plain radiography is still a sensitive method in degenerative spinal disease and for the identification of spondylolysis and destructions as well as transitional vertebra and other anomalies in the lumbosacral region. In lumbar disk herniation, CT and MR have higher sensitivity than lumbar myelography, and should be used as the primary imaging methods. Myelography is still the method of choice in lumbar spinal stenosis. Myelography should also be considered in patients with poor consistency between CT or MR findings and the clinical presentation. Postoperatively, MR is superior to CT and myelography for distinguishing between scar tissue and recurrent disk herniation.