Figure 1. A-E, grading system for the assessment of lumbar disc degeneration: Grade I: the structure of the disc is homogeneous, with bright hyperintense white signal intensity any normal disc height. Grade II: the structure of the disc is inhomogeneous, with the hyperintense white signal. The distinction between nucleus and annulus is clear, and the disc height is normal, with or without a horizontal gray bands. Grade III: the structure of the disc is inhomogeneous, with an intermittent gray signal intensity. The distinction between nucleus and annulus is unclear, and the disc height is normal or slightly decreased. Grade IV: the structure of the disc is inhomogeneous, with a hypointense dark gray signal intensity. The distinction between the nucleus and annulus is lost, the disc height is normal or moderately decreased. Grade V: the structure of the disc is inhomogeneous, with a hypointense black signal intensity. The distinction between nucleus and annulus is lost, and the disc space is collapsed. Grading is performed on T2-weighted Mid-sagittal fast spin-echo images.