Asymptomatic calcified herniated thoracic disks: CT recognition

Among 270 CT scans of the thorax obtained over a 7-month period, four patients (1.5%) with calcified herniated thoracic disks were identified. Each of these patients presented with abnormal chest radiographs and had a CT examination for evaluation of suspected malignancy. None showed any signs or symptoms of thoracic spinal cord compression. The clinical significance of incidental thoracic disk protrusions is unknown. It may be that these patients are at risk for the later development of symptomatic disk disease.