Adolescent back pain and the role of MRI

Objective: We aimed to evaluate adolescent back pain and the role of MRI in this subject. Material and Methods: In our study, the findings of 171 adolescent cases whose MRI scannings for lumbar and thoracic regions were performed in our clinic and their demographic data was evaluated retrospectively. Vertebral pathologies, disc pathologies, spinal cord lesions, developmental and aquired diseases of vertebral colon were seen in MRI scannings. Results: The ages of the cases ranged between 9 and 18 years and the mean age were 14.9 years. 54.4% of the cases (n=93) were female and 45.6% of them (n=78) were male. When the cases were evaluated in terms of type of the disc pathology, no statistically significant difference was determined between the genders of the cases (p>0,05). But there was statistically significant difference between the ages of the cases (p<0.01). The average age of the group with disc pathology is significantly higher than the average age of the group without disc pathology. When the etiologies of back pain were evaluated, we found that 23.4% of the case (n=40) were normal, 46.8% of them (n=80) had disc pathologies, 11.7% of them (n=20) had scoliosis, 4.6% of them (n=8) had neoplasm, 4.1% of them (n=7) had trauma, 2.9% of them (n=5) had Scheuermann's disease, 1.2% of them (n=2) had inflammatory reasons and 5.3% of them (n=9) had other congenital reasons. When we asked family history for finding information about genetic predisposition, familial history was seen in 48.8 % of the cases (n=39) with disc pathology. Employment history is present in 9% of the cases (n=16). When we evaluated that, we observed that jobs with carrying heavy weight and being exposed repeating microtrauma, like apprentice of lathe operator, selling drinking water, seller in markets are important causative factors. Conclusion: Back pain is a frequently encountered complaint in the adolescent age group. In diagnosis, imaging methods also play an effective role in addition to physical examination and laboratory findings. Correct indication and correct choice of modality is necessary for the diagnosis. MRI should be performed in the back pain of childhood due to its successful role in explanation of etiology and absence of radiation burden.