The utility of patient symptom questionnaires in CT of the lumbosacral spine

Background

Lower back pain and radiculopathy impose significant burdens on healthcare systems. Computed tomography (CT) scans are often used as an imaging modality for lower back symptomatology in the community. Accurately identifying relevant symptom sources using CT scans is often challenging due to the high incidence of incidental structural abnormalities. We examine the effectiveness of patient questionnaires in assisting reporting of CT scans of the lumbosacral spine.