Radiological manifestations of cervical disc herniation

Suh, J H; Park, C Y; Sung, K J

Abstract

Cervical disc herniation is relatively common and can produce neurological changes which mimic another neuralcompression diseases. Radiological diagnosis of cervical disc herniation is usually not difficult. But themyelographic deformities simulating an intra-medullary tumor and cervical spondylosis also can be produced bycervical disc disease has been experienced. And so we reivewed radiographic changes of 38 cases of confirmedcervical disc herniation in differential diagnosis. The results are; 1. 25 cases of 38 confirmed cervical discherniation (66%) have single involvement and 13 cases involved multiple levels. Most of them (92%) were located atC5-6 and C6-7. 2. On plain view of cervical spine, most of cases showed degenerative changes and only two caseswere normal. Disc space narrowing were seen in 74% of cases and 7 cases have moderate degree of spurring atneurocentral joint.. Both cervical spondylosis and disc protrusion produced superimposed in many cases. 3. Onmyelography, 32 of 38 cases (84%) showed the extradural defects on pantopaque column at the interspace levels and11 cases showed nerve root thickening. It was not difficult to diagnose myelographically in most of these casesand myelographic findings were well correlated to surgical findings in the location and the type. 4. 6 casesshowed partial or complete obstruction of pantopaque column in which it was difficult to differentiate from otherspinal cord lesion and the lateral view of myelographic study and the radiographic changes in the plain view werehelpful to differentiate.