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Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery
Published on: August 17, 2022
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Short-Term Resolution of Herniated Disk Mimicking Tumor
Lukas Andereggen1, Javier Anon2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
World Neurosurgery
|June 7, 2021
Summary
Atypical disc herniation can mimic spinal tumors on imaging. Follow-up imaging is recommended over surgery for atypical disc fragments, especially without neurological deficits, to confirm diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Radiology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Sciatica and back pain are common presenting symptoms.
- Atypical disc fragments can present with imaging characteristics similar to spinal tumors.
Observation:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an atypical disc fragment in a patient with back pain and sciatica.
- The lesion demonstrated radiologic characteristics suggestive of a spinal tumor.
Findings:
- Follow-up MRI showed complete resolution of the lesion.
- The patient's clinical symptoms resolved concurrently with the imaging findings.
Implications:
- Distinguishing between atypical disc herniation and spinal tumors based solely on initial imaging is challenging.
- In cases without significant neurological deficits, conservative management with follow-up imaging is advised to differentiate between these conditions.
- This approach can help avoid unnecessary surgical intervention for conditions that may resolve spontaneously.
