Lumbar spine MRI showing an osteophyte abutting the exiting L3 nerve root

(A) Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the lumbar spine shows facet hypertrophic changes with osteophytes (arrow) abutting the exiting L3 nerve root (arrowhead) in the right L3-4 neural foramen. Note the lack of facet hypertrophic changes at the level below, L4-5, where the exiting nerve root is surrounded by hyperintense fat.
(B) Axial T2-weighted images show the facet osteophytes (arrow) encroaching on the posterior aspect of the neural foramen, adjacent to the exiting L3 nerve root (arrowhead).