Volumetric analysis of cervical intervertebral discs: Reference values for interventional cervical disc procedures

MRI does not reliably identify symptomatic cervical discs, and normative cervical disc volumetrics remain poorly defined.

To establish level-specific cervical disc volume norms after excluding non-intradiscal contrast flow and to compare volumes between pain-positive and pain-negative discs.

This retrospective 10-year study analyzed cervical discograms with contained intradiscal filling; discs with epidural, vascular, or prevertebral extravasation were excluded. Injected volumes were recorded, and interlevel and pain-group comparisons were performed using ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, t-tests, and Mann-Whitney U testing.

A total of 135 discs met the inclusion criteria. The overall mean injected cervical disc volume was 0.24 ± 0.10 mL (range, 0.10 - 0.60 mL), with no significant differences across cervical levels. Pain-positive discs demonstrated higher injected volumes at C3/4, C4/5, C5/6, and C6/7 compared with pain-negative discs (p < 0.05).

Cervical disc volumetrics are consistent across levels, with higher volumes noted in pain-positive discs at mid-cervical levels. These baseline values should be referenced for intradiscal injections to guide administered volumes and to help prevent disc overpressurization.