title: Calcified herniations of the thoracic disk: role of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography in surgical planning.
abstract: Herniations of thoracic disks are uncommon, and their surgical management can be challenging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is rapidly becoming the method of choice for assessing degenerative disease in thoracic disks. However, calcification may be difficult to detect with MRI and plain films alone. The authors report a case in which MRI and myelography underestimated the true extent of disk calcification, the detection of which would have altered the initial surgical approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Sciences and Diagnostic Imaging, Foothills Hospital, Calgary, Alta.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: MacRae
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography