title: Does needle insertion site affect diskography results? A retrospective analysis.
abstract: METHODS
  A retrospective clinical data analysis was performed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of needle insertion site on provocative diskography results, and to ascertain whether performing diskography ipsilaterally to a patient's reported pain leads to a higher rate of false-positives.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In certain groups of patients, provocative diskography is associated with a significant false-positive rate, which can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. Although purported by some to be a cause of false-positive diskogram results, the effect of needle insertion site on diskography results has yet to be determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  The charts of 127 patients who underwent diskography were evaluated to determine the relationship between the location of pain, needle insertion site, and diskography results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Performing diskography on the side ipsilateral to a patient's pain did not result in a higher incidence of positive diskogram results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  False-positive diskography results are unlikely to result from performing the procedure on the same side as a patient's reported pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. Steven.Cohen@med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.forename: Gregory V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Fant
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oberfoell
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stojanovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011859:Radiography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media