Spinal Nerve Root Swelling Mimicking Intervertebral Disc Herniation in Magnetic Resonance Imaging -A Case Report-

Abstract

A herniated intervertebral disc is the most common type of soft tissue mass lesion within the lumbar spinal canal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful tool for the assessment of patients with lower back pain and radiating pain, especially intervertebral disc herniation. MRI findings of intervertebral disc herniation are typical. However, from time to time, despite an apparently classic history and typical MRI findings suggestive of disc herniation, surgical exploration fails to reveal any lesion of an intervertebral disc. Our patient underwent lumbar disc surgery with the preoperative diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation; however, nothing could be found during the surgical procedure, except a swollen nerve root.

Severe lumbar radiculopathy with epidural venous plexus engorgement in a morbidly obese pediatric patient

“…Spinal radiculopathy is a multifactorial disease with inflammatory, neuropathic, ischemic, and mechanical components. [1,5] Mechanical stress on the nerve root can impair intra-radicular blood flow and cause intra-neural damage and functional changes [1] . However, vascular abnormalities causing compression and excessive pressure on a nerve root and/or dorsal root ganglion have occasionally been reported.…”