title: [Differential diagnosis of back pain].
abstract: Back pain is one of the most frequent clinical pictures encountered in a physician's practice. It can pose a great burden on the individual and in addition have a multifactorial origin. It can be caused by intervertebral discs, vertebral joints, nerve roots, ligaments, sacroiliac joints, or a combination of the above. Back pain, as a symptom of a systemic disease, can also be a warning signal of grave disorders such as malignancies or in the event of aortic aneurysm. The well-considered choice of appropriate diagnostic procedures and suitable treatment requires a thorough knowledge of this multifactorial clinical picture.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für diagnostische und interventionelle Neuroradiologie, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, 66421 Homburg/Saar. nrreith@uniklinik-saarland.de
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reith
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nabhan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kelm
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naumann
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahlhelm
mesh_terms: D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*