[Significance of CT scanning in diagnosis of herniated lumbar disc]

During March 1986 to September 1988, 52 patients complaining lumbago and/or sciatica diagnosed by CT scanning as herniated lumbar disc were operated upon. The accuracy of CT diagnosis for lumbar disc herniation proved by surgery was 47 cases (90.4%). CT findings and surgical findings did not accord in 5 cases. Of these, some were because of technical problems of the CT scanning and some were faults of surgical technique. The merits and faults of CT scanning for diagnosis of protrusion of lumbar disc and its CT manifestations were discussed.