Intervertebral Disk Calcification of the Spine in an Elderly Population: Radiographic Prevalence, Location, and Distribution and Correlation with Spinal Degeneration

Chanchairujira, Kullanuch; Chung, Christine B.; Kim, Jee Young; Papakonstantinou, Olympia; Lee, Min Hee; Clopton, Paul; Resnick, Donald

doi:10.1148/radiol.2302011842

Cited by 123 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…According to the literature the prevalence of intervertebral disk calcification increases with age and extent of disk space loss. This was [4]. Another histological study from Gries et al [7] showed no correlation between early histological changes in lumbar disks and the associated facet joints (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Grading of degenerative disk disease and functional impairment: imaging versus patho-anatomical findings

Quint

Wilke

2008

Eur Spine J

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Degenerative instability affecting the functional spinal unit is discussed as a cause of symptoms. The value of imaging signs for assessing the resulting functional impairment is still unclear. To determine the relationship between slight degrees of degeneration and function, we performed a biomechanical study with 18 multisegmental (L2-S2) human lumbar cadaveric specimens. The multidirectional spinal deformation was measured during the continuous application of pure moments of flexion/extension, bilateral bending and rotation in a spine tester. The three flexibility parameters neutral zone, range of motion and neutral zone ratio were evaluated. Different grading systems were used: (1) anteroposterior and lateral radiographs (degenerative disk disease) (2) oblique radiographs (facet joint degeneration) (3) macroscopic and (4) microscopic evaluation. The most reliable correlation was between the grading of microscopic findings and the flexibility parameters; the imaging evaluation was not as informative.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Grading of degenerative disk disease and functional impairment: imaging versus patho-anatomical findings

Quint

Wilke

2008

Eur Spine J

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“…Discal calcification is reported to be found incidentally on 5 % of chest and 6 % of abdominal radiographs and in 70 % of postmortem examinations of adults [2]. These are generally asymptomatic and associated with an underlying predisposing systemic condition such as hyperparathyroidism, chondrocalcinosis and haemochromatosis [3]. Idiopathic symptomatic CD in adults is extremely rare and currently, only eight cases have been reported [2,[4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute symptomatic calcific discitis in adults: a case report and review of literature

et al. 2015

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Symptomatic calcific discitis has been reported in the paediatric population but is a rare entity in adults with only eight cases reported in the English literature. We present a case of adult calcific discitis presenting with acute onset back pain. Radiographs and CT demonstrated central T11-T12 disc calcification with diffuse marrow oedema on subsequent MRI. The patient was referred to our spinal oncology unit due to the extensive marrow oedema as a possible underlying primary bone tumour. Review of the CT confirmed an end-plate defect with herniated calcific nucleus pulposus with no underlying bone lesion. Features were in keeping with acute calcific discitis. The patient was treated symptomatically and made an uneventful recovery. We discuss the characteristic imaging features seen on radiograph, CT and MRI and review the current literature. Calcific discitis is a self-limiting pathology requiring symptomatic management only. Radiologists need to be aware of this rare entity as it can occur in adults and may be mistaken for a more sinister pathology such as infective discitis or a bone tumour and lead to further unnecessary imaging or invasive procedures.

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“…Although 85 years have passed since Schmorl [1] first described herniations of the nucleus pulposus into the vertebral end-plates of the thoracic and lumbar spine, controversy still exists regarding the pathogenesis, etiology, epidemiology and clinical significance of these lesions [2][3][4][5][6]. It is still debated whether Schmorl's nodes (SNs) are symptomatically silent developmental or congenital aberrations of the normal vertebral anatomy or represent a common histopathological pathway for various and adverse metabolic, traumatic, infectious, degenerative or malignant factors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The epidemiology of Schmorl’s nodes and their correlation to radiographic degeneration in 4,151 subjects

et al. 2013

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Purpose Schmorl's nodes (SNs) are commonly seen in vertebral imaging of the normal adult population referred for different reasons and are duly noted by the radiologist. However, little is known about their etiology: either SNs are perceived as largely inert developmental or congenital herniations of disc tissue into weak areas of the vertebral end-plates, or they are perceived as a common pathological pathway of different adverse and general factors such as malignancy, trauma, infection, osteoporosis, Paget's disease and so forth. A commonly accepted morphological definition of what precisely constitute SNs does not exist, and consequently prevalences vary wildly in the literature. In the present study of 4,151 standardized lateral radiographs of the lumbar spine in an adult, Caucasian population between 22 and 93 years (median age 63 years, M 1,533, W 2,618). Methods We investigated prevalence, distribution and epidemiologic relationships of SNs. Results SNs occur primarily in the upper part of the lumbar spine, and usually there are multiple lesions in the same individual. We could not establish any significant correlation between SNs and gender, age, BMI, height, weight or occupational exposure for heavy lifting. The overall prevalence was 3.8 %. We did not find any significant correlations between SNs and overall degeneration of the lumbar spine. Conclusion We found a prevalence of SNs in the lower end of the spectrum than hitherto reported.

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Intervertebral Disk Calcification of the Spine in an Elderly Population: Radiographic Prevalence, Location, and Distribution and Correlation with Spinal Degeneration

Abstract: IDC is common in elderly persons, especially in the annulus fibrosus and lower thoracic spine. The prevalence of IDC increases with age and extent of disk space loss.

Cited by 123 publications

References 10 publications

Grading of degenerative disk disease and functional impairment: imaging versus patho-anatomical findings

Grading of degenerative disk disease and functional impairment: imaging versus patho-anatomical findings

Acute symptomatic calcific discitis in adults: a case report and review of literature

The epidemiology of Schmorl’s nodes and their correlation to radiographic degeneration in 4,151 subjects

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