Fig. 2

Male patient aged 45 years old presented with low back pain referred to left leg for 6 months. a Sagittal T2WI of lumbar spine showing: L4/L5 heterogeneous, intermediate to hypointense signal, lost nucleus-annulus distinction, moderately decreased disk space (grade 4). L5/S1 heterogeneous, intermediate to hypointense signal, lost nucleus-annulus distinction, moderately decreased disk space (grade 4). Sagittal color coded post processing T2 mapping (b–d) and (e–g) of most degenerated disks L4–5 and L5–S1 respectively , Sagittal post processing ADC mapping (h–j) and (k–m) of same respectively with ROIs placed on nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus and entire of the disks and the values tabulated as follows: