[Myelopathy and radiculopathy in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis]

Thirty-four patients of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) were presented. Twenty-four of them were associated with myelopathy or radiculopathy, mainly due to spinal stenosis. Plain X-ray films showed there was spinal flowing or laminated ossification on the anterior or right lateral side, forming continuous bony bridge at least of four vertebral bodies. Ossification occurred both on the spinal and extra-spinal region. Operative findings of 11 cases revealed significant encroachment of the ossified mass on the dural sac, especially at the level of the apophyseal joint. OPLL was found in ten cases. DISH and OPLL may be different manifestations of same entity. In this series, there was not enough evidence of diabetes mellitus related to DISH, and no specific antigen in HLA typing.