Common Terms on an X-ray Report

An X-ray report describes the bones and alignment of the spine using specialised terms. The plain-English explanations below are a general guide to what those words usually mean. They are not an interpretation of your own X-ray — only your doctor or specialist can tell you what your report means for you, by reading it alongside your symptoms and examination.

- Alignment — how the vertebrae line up; a report may call this normal or altered.

- Lordosis — the normal inward curve of the neck and lower back.

- Kyphosis — the normal outward curve of the upper back; an exaggerated curve may be noted.

- Scoliosis — a sideways curvature of the spine.

- Cobb angle — the measurement, in degrees, used to describe the size of a curve.

- Disc space narrowing — reduced gap between two vertebrae, an indirect sign of disc wear.

- Osteophytes — bony spurs at the edges of vertebrae and joints, common with age.

- Sclerosis — an area of denser bone, often reflecting old stress or arthritis.

- Wedging / compression — a vertebra that has lost height at the front, often from a fracture.

- Spondylosis — general age-related wear and tear of the spine.

- Spondylolisthesis — one vertebra slipping forward on the one below, sometimes graded 1 to 4.

- Transitional vertebra — a normal variation at the junction of the lower back and pelvis.

- Osteopenia / reduced bone density — bones appearing less dense (best confirmed with a DEXA scan).

- Degenerative change — a broad term for wear-and-tear findings.

- Hardware / instrumentation — surgical screws, rods or plates and comments on their position.

- Soft tissues — a note that the areas outside the bone appear normal or otherwise.

Most X-ray findings describe the bones and alignment, and many — spurs, mild narrowing, degenerative change — are common with age and not necessarily the source of symptoms. Understanding the terms is meant to make your report less worrying and to help you talk it through with your specialist, who interprets it within your whole clinical picture rather than from the words alone.

• —Royal College of Radiologists — iRefer: Making the Best Use of Clinical Radiology
• —UK Health Security Agency — Ionising Radiation: Patient Dose Information
• —British Association of Spine Surgeons (BASS)

This information is for general patient education and is not a substitute for an individual consultation. Always seek personalised advice from a qualified spinal specialist.