title: Foraminal L5-S1 disc herniation and conus medullaris syndrome: a vascular etiology?
abstract: A 56-year-old man presented with a conus medullaris syndrome lumbar magnetic resonance imaging showed only a right foraminal disc herniation at the L5-S1 level. Operative removal of the protrusion was followed by prompt neurological improvement. We postulate that the discrepancy between extent of compression shown by imaging and the neurological findings may reflect vascular compression of the artery of Desproges-Gotteron, an anatomical variant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Hospital S. Joao, Porto, Portugal. reis_carina@yahoo.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chamadoira
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fonseca
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012447:Sacrum; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology*; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000209:etiology