Two brothers with a symptomatic thoracic disc herniation at T11-T12: clinical report.
BACKGROUND
In contrast to what is commonly believed, thoracic disc herniations are not rare lesions. Their etiopathogenesis is largely unknown, but may be linked to trauma, Scheuermann's disease or a degenerative back.


OBJECTIVE
We report two brothers with a symptomatic thoracic disc herniation at T11-T12 and address the possibility of a genetic factor as well as other factors in the etiopathogenesis of (symptomatic) thoracic disc herniations.


METHODS
Both brothers were in their early thirties and had a physically demanding job, however, only the first one was a smoker and was diagnosed with Scheuermann's disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The etiology of thoracic disc herniations is likely multifactorial. Their occurrence in siblings may reflect some genetic predisposition or may be merely coincidental, given the high prevalence of thoracic disc herniations in asymptomatic individuals. Further research, including genetic studies, is warranted.
Overvliet
Geke M
GM
Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Beuls
Emile A M
EA
Ter Laak-Poort
Mariel
M
Cornips
Erwin M J
EM
D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D017587:Diskectomy, Percutaneous; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D020335:Paraparesis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D012544:Scheuermann Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D035781:Siblings; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D016896:Treatment Outcome