The nuclear trial sign in thoracic herniated disks.
OBJECTIVE
Postmyelography CT studies of 84 patients with 114 thoracic herniated disks were reviewed for endplate irregularity, sclerosis, and/or disk-space calcification that could suggest a migratory path of the herniated fragment.


RESULTS
Abnormal straight or curvilinear densities (the "nuclear trial sign") were present at the level of the disk or endplate in 46% of the cases. MR studies of 35 thoracic herniated disks were also examined. Similar changes were likewise present in 44%.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequent occurrence of this finding in the mid and lower thoracic spine renders it a useful secondary sign for thoracic herniated disks, although false positives do occur.
Awwad
E E
EE
Department of Radiology, St. Louis University Medical Center, MO 63110-0250.
Martin
D S
DS
Smith
K R
KR
D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009192:Myelography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed