Spinal Gas Collection Demonstrated at CT

Percutaneous treatment of gas-containing lumbar disc herniation

“…However, compression of nerve roots by intraspinal gas collection has been reported much less frequently. [3][4][5][6][7][8]10,11 In some of these cases surgery has been performed, 3,5,10,11 which in most instances revealed an epidural gas bubble that was adjacent to the annulus fibrosus and surrounded by a thin rim of fibrous and/or cartilaginous tissue. In fewer cases the gas was reported to be present intradurally 1 or free within the epidural space.…”

“…The fact that the gas does not assume the exact contour of the epidural space and that it forms a bubble is consistent with the theory of gas herniation from the disc space, resulting in a mass delimited by a thin rim of fibrous tissue rather than with gas free in the epidural space. 5 Because we did not perform surgery or CT myelography, we cannot with certainty establish whether the location of the gas bubble was epi-or intradural. However, the CT scans did reveal an impression of the dural sac by the gas collection, a sign that supports extradural location.…”

“…In fewer cases the gas was reported to be present intradurally 1 or free within the epidural space. 5 The most probable explanation for the development of intraspinal gas masses in patients with gaseous degeneration of intervertebral discs is a valvepump-like mechanism. According to this theory, 3,10,12 the intradiscal gas either moves from the disc into the spinal canal through small tears in the annulus fibrosus (gas that is free within epidural space) or it is squeezed from the disc into a well-encapsulated sac lined with connective tissue, generated by an extruded fragment capsule (gas that is restricted by a fibrous sac).…”

Epidural air associated with spontaneous pneumomediastinum in children: Uncommon complication?

“…The most common etiology of intraspinal air is iatrogenic introduction of air into the spinal canal in association with diagnostic lumbar puncture, epidural or spinal anesthesia, and surgical intervention 12–16 . The second most common cause is external forces, such as spinal or head trauma 12,17,18 and sporting exertion 19 .…”

Symptomatic Epidural Gas-containing Cyst from Intervertebral Vacuum Phenomenon

“…The vacuum disc phenomenon, known as a presence of gas in the intervertebral disc space, is a relatively common radiological finding, especially on computed tomography (CT) finding 1 , 6 , 8) . Gas production in the intervertebral disc space canoccur as a result of disc degeneration.…”