title: The radiology of thoracic disc protrusion.
abstract: The radiological features of 20 surgically proven thoracic disc protrusions are reviewed. In 15 (75%), characteristic plain film changes were found to be very helpful in making the correct diagnosis. Calcified disc material in the spinal canal was clearly demonstrated in 11 (55%) cases, and this, in association with linear calcification in the adjacent disc space, has been shown to be diagnostic of the condition. At myelography, central protrusions (55%) were found to be predominant, while lateral protrusions were uncommon. The differential diagnosis of a calcified lesion in the spinal canal includes thoracic disc protrusion, osteochondroma and meningioma.
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009192:Myelography; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray