Spinal nomenclature

There has been a proliferation of differing terms, even among practicing surgeons. A morphologically based nomenclature may be needed for radiologic purposes, whereas a more histopathologic terminology would be desirable for surgical descriptors. Whichever approach is undertaken, the true radiologic-surgical correlation of disc abnormalities within the spine is doomed to failure without agreement on some type of standard nomenclature. A review of the problem and potential solutions are suggested.