title: Correlation of standard diagnostic studies with surgically proven lumbar disk rupture.
abstract: One hundred patients with surgically proven ruptured lumbar disks were studied in terms of their diagnostic work-up. Four studies--electromyogram, CT scan, myelogram, and epidural venogram--were evaluated independently and in combination. No one study was consistently abnormal; however, epidural venography was diagnostic in 74% of cases. CT scanning and electromyographic examination, when used in combination, were found to be reliable in confirming the diagnosis of lumbar disk rupture in 84% of cases. In no instance were all preoperative diagnostic studies normal when a diagnosis of herniated nucleus pulposus was proven surgically. It seems, therefore, that a detailed history and physical examination in combination with a positive result in at least one of the diagnostic studies appears sufficient to establish the diagnosis of lumbar disk rupture.
mesh_terms: D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D004576:Electromyography; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009192:Myelography; D010690:Phlebography; D010808:Physical Examination; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed