Loss of lordosis: Meaning in a Radiology Report

Also written as: straightening of the lordosis, flattening of the lordosis, reduced lordosis, hypolordosis

Loss of lordosis means the normal inward curve of the neck or lower back looks straighter than usual. It is common and often means little on its own.

What it means

Seen from the side, a healthy spine has gentle curves. The neck and lower back curve inward, and this curve is called lordosis. Loss of lordosis means that curve is flatter or straighter than expected. MRI and CT are done lying down, often with the head resting in a support, so position alone can change how curved the spine looks. A reversed curve, bending the other way, is a stronger change.

When it matters

A straighter curve, especially in the neck, is common even in people without pain, and on its own it often means little. Radiologists commonly mention muscle spasm or positioning as possible causes. Doctors pay more attention after an injury, or when it comes with a slipped vertebra, a fracture or a reversed curve. Standing X-rays show alignment more reliably than scans done lying down.

Questions to ask your doctor

Could the straightening come from my position in the scanner or muscle spasm?
Is there any slip, fracture or other change that goes with it?
Would standing X-rays show my spine's alignment better?

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.