Spine MRIQuick lookupPick the signal → get the type

Modic Endplate Changes

Signal change in the vertebral endplate & subchondral marrow from disc degeneration. Tap the T1 and T2 signal you see — the type appears instantly.

What type is it?

Judge the signal relative to adjacent normal vertebral marrow — not in absolute terms. The change must be endplate-centred and abut a degenerated disc; normal adult marrow is already fatty and bright on T1, so an endplate that matches the rest of the vertebral body is normal, not a Modic change.

T1 signal vs normal marrow

T2 signal vs normal marrow

Select a T1 and a T2 signal to identify the Modic type.

MRI reference

Sagittal lumbar MRI: Modic Type 1, 2 and 3 by row on T1- and T2-weighted images, with signal descriptions — Sagittal lumbar spine — each row is one Modic type; left = T1, right = T2.

At a glance

Type	T1	T2	Tissue	Key point
Type 1	↓ Dark	↑ Bright	Edema / inflammation	Active; enhances; most likely symptomatic; mimics infection.
Type 2	↑ Bright	Iso–↑	Fatty marrow	Most common; chronic/stable; suppresses on fat-sat.
Type 3	↓ Dark	↓ Dark	Bony sclerosis	Matches dense endplate sclerosis on CT / X-ray.

Mnemonic: Type 1 = in1flammation (water: dark T1 / bright T2) · Type 2 = fat (bright T1) · Type 3 = bone (dark / dark).
Where: most common at L4–L5 and L5–S1. Mixed types (1/2, 2/3) are common.
Read signal relatively: every ↑/↓ above is compared with adjacent normal vertebral marrow, in an endplate-based change next to a degenerated disc — not an absolute impression.

⚠️ Type 1 edema can mimic discitis–osteomyelitis. Modic spares the disc (low T2 disc, no disc-space enhancement or collection) — correlate clinically.

Reference only — not a substitute for clinical judgment. Classification after Modic et al., Radiology 1988.