title: Posterior extradural migration of extruded thoracic and lumbar disc fragments: role of MRI.
abstract: We report three patients with a sequestrated disc fragment posterior to the thecal sac. The affected disc was lumbar in two cases and thoracic in the third. Disc fragment migration is usually limited to the anterior extra dural space. Migration of a disc fragment behind the dural sac is seldom encountered. MRI appears to be the method of choice to make this diagnosis. The disc fragments gave low signal on T1- and slightly high signal on T2-weighted images and showed rim contrast enhancement. The differential diagnosis includes abscess, metastatic tumour and haematoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, CHU Hautepierre, F-67098 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neugroschl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kehrli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gigaud
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ragragui
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maitrot
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manelfe
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dietemann
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*