title: Spontaneous regression of lumbar disc herniation.
abstract: We present 3 cases of spontaneous regression of lumbar herniated disc. The disc regression correlated with clinical improvement documented by MRI studies. Although the phenomenon of spontaneous disappearance of decrease in size of herniated disc fragments is well known, the exact mechanism underlying this process remains unclear. We discuss 3 possible explanations for disc regression: retraction into the vertebral space, dehydration/shrinkage, and resorption due to inflammatory reaction.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Department, School of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. Tel. +90 (272) 2142065. Fax. +90 (272) 2133066. E-mail: hskarabekir@hotmail.com, hskarabekir@aku.edu.tr.
authors.forename: H Selim
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Karabekir
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yildizhan
authors.forename: Canan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balci
authors.forename: Elmas K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Atar