Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy: Meaning in a Radiology Report

Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy

Also written as: ligamentum flavum thickening, ligamentous hypertrophy, flaval ligament hypertrophy

Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy means a ligament lining the back of the spinal canal has thickened. It is common with age and can narrow the canal.

Seen on: MRI

How it reads in a report

At L3-L4, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and facet arthropathy contribute to mild spinal canal stenosis.

What it means

The ligamentum flavum, Latin for yellow ligament, is an elastic band joining the bony arches of neighboring vertebrae. It forms part of the back wall of the spinal canal. With age and wear it loses some of its stretch and becomes scarred and thicker. It can also fold inward, or buckle, when the disc in front loses height. Either way, it takes up space inside the canal.

When it matters

A thickened ligament seldom causes symptoms by itself. It matters as one of several causes of spinal canal narrowing, usually together with disc bulges and facet joint arthritis at the same level. Doctors look at the overall size of the canal and whether your symptoms fit, such as leg pain or heaviness on walking that eases when you sit or bend forward.

Questions to ask your doctor

How much does the thickened ligament narrow my spinal canal?
What else adds to the narrowing at that level?
Do my leg symptoms when walking fit with this narrowing?

General information, not medical advice. What a finding means for you depends on your symptoms, your history and the images themselves, so talk your results through with a doctor.