Score

Severity of Artifacts

Density of Muscles

Clarity of Inter-Muscular planes

Definition of the vertebral elements

1

Severe artifact, obvious distortion

Heterogeneous

Cannot be distinguished

Cannot be distinguished

2

Obvious artifact, mild distortion

Marked

Distinguishable but obscured

Distinguishable but obscured

3

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

4

Little artifact without

obvious distortion

Mild heterogeneous

Blurred edges

Blurred edges

5

No artifact

Homogeneous

Clear and sharp edges

Clear and sharp edges