title: Herniated thoracic disc mimicking spinal abscess.
abstract: Herniated thoracic discs are uncommon. Although uncommon, their potential for spinal cord damage makes them an important cause of backache. History and examination may be unhelpful, and even misleading. A diagnostic clue is disc space calcification on plain radiographs. Diagnosis can be confirmed by myelography or CT scanning. Cord compression can be prevented by surgery, which carries a low risk. Herniated thoracic disc should be remembered as a cause of backache in view of its serious, but treatable nature.
authors: Department of Medicine, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
authors: R L
authors: RL
authors: Soutar
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009192:Myelography; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed