Introduction: Pfirrmann grade was used widely to evaluate the disc degeneration. But, not yet, there was no report presented the change of Pfirrmann grade according to the aging process in whole spine MR images. This study evaluated the differences of Pfirrmann grade between the ages and sex among Korean population using whole spine sagittal T2 weighted images.

Methods: We compared the Pfirrmann grade according to the ages and sex in 653 patients using whole spine sagittal T2 weighted images. There 19 patients with second decades (12 males and 7 females), 74 patients with third decades (31 males and 43 females) , 141 patients with fourth decades (90 males and 51 females) , 129 patients with fifth decades (69 males and 60 females) , 139 patients with sixth decades (62 males and 77 females) , 93 patients with seventh decades (42 males and 51 females) , and 58 patients with eighth to ninth decades (30 males and 28 females).

Results: Pfirrmann grade in whole spine sagittal T2 weighted images was gradually changed with aging process, and most of them showed statistically significant differences. Cervical spine and lower lumbar spine were early degenerated than other level spine. Between the sexes, the sexual differences were observed in C3/4, lower thoracic spine and lumbar spine, and most of them showed the early degenerative change in Pfirrmann grade among males.

Conclusions: Pfirrmann grade is useful tool to check the degeneration of disc in whole spine MR images. The disc was gradually degenerated with ages, and the disc among specific levels had early degenerated tendency in male population than female population.

Patient Care: By knowing the general Pfirrmann grade among ages and sexed, the early degenerative change of patients could detective.

Learning Objectives: The disc was gradually degenerated with ages, and the disc among specific levels had early degenerated tendency in male population than female population.

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