title: Identical lumbar spinal disk pathology in twins (clinical presentation and review of literature).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The occurrence of similar pathology in identical twins is well recognized. Spinal pathologies have been suggested to have a genetic predisposition. Degenerative lumbar spinal disease is one of them, with low back pain as one of its common presentations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a case of monozygotic twins presenting with lumbar disk herniation at same level, that is, L4/L5. Both the twins underwent surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe such a scenario is a rare occurrence and does highlight a probable role of genetic factors, over and above the environmental factors, in lumbar disk pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7LN, UK. jsdhir2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jasmeet Singh
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Dhir
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheeseman
authors.forename: Jagmohan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic