Degenerative disc disease refers to changes in the spinal discs that occur as part of the normal aging process, including loss of disc height, dehydration of the disc material, and the development of tears in the annulus fibrosus. While MRI is the primary imaging modality for evaluating spinal disc disease, ultrasound has a growing role in certain applications, particularly in guiding injections around the spine for pain management and in evaluating the cervical and lumbar spine in infants. Musculoskeletal ultrasound can visualize disc herniations in some locations and assess the effects of disc degeneration on surrounding soft tissue structures.
Sonography Term