What it means
A spinal disc has a soft center held in place by a tough outer ring, the annulus, built from layers of fibers. A fissure is a split in or between those layers. On MRI it often shows as a small bright line or spot at the back of the disc on T2 images, sometimes called a high-intensity zone. Experts prefer the word fissure to tear, because it usually reflects wear rather than an injury.
When it matters
Fissures are common in people with no back pain, and many never cause symptoms. They are sometimes linked to pain coming from the disc itself, but the scan alone cannot tell whether yours hurts. A fissure on its own is not a herniation, though the two can occur in the same disc. It seldom leads to further tests by itself, and doctors weigh it against your symptoms and exam.
Questions to ask your doctor
- Could the fissure be causing my back pain, or is it likely incidental?
- Is there a bulge or herniation at the same level?
- Does the fissure need any follow-up imaging on its own?
