The correlation between the high-intensity zone on a T2-weighted MRI and positive outcomes of discography: a meta-analysis

Table 1 Cohort characteristics

Author	Study design	Magnetic field intensity	Was discography method described?	Did the observer of MRI and discography know each other?	Is the statistical method correct?	Methodologic quality
Aprill 1992	CS	0.6 T	Yes	No	Yes	A
Schellhas 1996	RA	1.5 T	Yes	No	Yes	A
Ricketson 1996	CCT	Not stated	Yes	No	Yes	B
Saifuddin 1998	RA	0.5–1.5 T	Yes	No	Yes	A
Ito 1998	CCT	1.5 T	Yes	No	Yes	A
Smith 1998	RS	1.5 T	Yes	No	Yes	A
Lam 2000	RS	1.5 T	Yes	No	Yes	A
Carrage 2000	RA	Not stated	Yes	No	Yes	B
Lim 2005	CCT	1.5 T	Yes	No	Yes	A
Peng 2006	CCT	1.5 T	Yes	No	Yes	A
Chen 2011	CCT	1.5 T	Yes	No	Yes	A

ISSN: 1749-799X