Related Experiment Videos

Association between findings of provocative discography and vertebral endplate signal changes as seen on MRI

H S Sandhu1, L P Sanchez-Caso, H K Parvataneni

  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA. sandhuh@hss.edu

Journal of Spinal Disorders
|October 29, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Provocative discography and Modic changes on MRI are diagnostic tools for disc degeneration. This study found no significant relationship between these methods for diagnosing pathologic discs.

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Radiology
  • Pain Management

Background:

  • Provocative discography is a controversial diagnostic tool for pathologic discs.
  • Modic changes on MRI indicate advanced discogenic degeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between provocative discography and Modic changes on MRI.
  • To determine if these distinct diagnostic tools correlate in identifying discogenic pain.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 53 consecutive patients who underwent both provocative discography and MRI.
  • Analysis of T1 and T2 weighted MRI findings, specifically Modic changes, in relation to discographic pain provocation.

Main Results:

  • No significant relationship was found between provocative discography findings and Modic changes on MRI.
  • A high percentage of patients with concordant pain on discography showed no endplate changes on MRI (79.5% T1, 74.4% T2).
  • Conversely, many levels without pain on discography also showed no endplate changes on MRI (84.5% T1, 81.7% T2).

Conclusions:

  • The study suggests no significant association between provocative discography and Modic changes on MRI.
  • Further research is recommended to clarify the distinct roles of these diagnostic tools in evaluating discogenic conditions.

Related Concept Videos

Degenerative Disc Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:23

Degenerative Disc Disease ll: Pathophysiology

The symptoms of degenerative disc disease arise from a combination of mechanical compression, vascular compromise, and biochemical inflammation, which together disrupt nerve function and produce pain.Mechanical CompressionDisc degeneration reduces height and elasticity, predisposing to herniation of the nucleus pulposus, a major cause of radicular pain. Herniations may be protrusion (bulging with intact annulus), extrusion (nucleus extends beyond disc but remains connected), or sequestration...
Degenerative Disc Disease I: Introduction01:27

Degenerative Disc Disease I: Introduction

Degenerative disc disease is a chronic condition in which intervertebral discs gradually lose structure and function. It is not infectious or autoimmune; rather, it results from age-related biochemical and mechanical changes, influenced by genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors.Structure and Function of DiscsThe spine contains 23 intervertebral discs that absorb load, distribute forces, maintain spacing, and allow flexibility. Each disc consists of a nucleus pulposus, a gel-like core...
Magnetic Resonance Imaging01:24

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical imaging technique based on a phenomenon of nuclear physics discovered in the 1930s, in which matter exposed to magnetic fields and radio waves was found to emit radio signals. In 1970, a physician and researcher named Raymond Damadian noticed that malignant (cancerous) tissue gave off different signals than normal body tissue. He applied for a patent for the first MRI scanning device in clinical use by the early 1980s. The early MRI...