Fifty-four patients with lumber disc disease were studied with surface coil MR and/or CT and surface coil MR and/or Myelography. The results were compared with hte surgically confirmed abnormalities. MR examination of 25 lumbar discs of surgically confirmed abnormalities were analyzed retrospectively. All studies were evaluated for the location and typer of disc. L4/5 and protrusion were the most frequent location and type of disc disease. The signal intensity of the diseased disc space was isointense on TI-weighted image in 80% and hypointense on T2-weighted image in 50%. The signal intensity of the herniated disc was isointense on T1-weighted image in 89%. The decrease in the height of disc space was related to the aging process and the type of disc, particularly in an extruding or sequestrations type. Epidural fat obliteration was noted in protrusion, extrusion, and sequestration type except bulging. At the operation of the herniated disc, there was a 92% agreement at the MR, an 86% agreement at the CT, and a 77% agreement at the Myelography. Therefore, the choice of initial imaging modality for evaluation of patients with suspected disc disease is MR.