Diagnosis of Disk Disease
Georges Y. El-Khoury, M.D.
Department of Radiology
University of Iowa College of Medicine
In the evaluation of disk disease by MRI or CT it is best if the term
"disk herniation" is avoided. Jensen et al (1) consider the term
"herniation" as being too generic for clinical relevance; "hernistion" has
been used to describe a wide spectrum of abnormalities involving the disk.
On the other hand, using a well-defined morphologic nomenclature is more
useful and may correlate better with symptoms. The following terms have
been proposed by Jensen et al (1):
Bulge:
1a. 
Protrusion:
2a. 
|
2b. 
|
2c. 
Extrusion:
3a. 
|
3b. 
|
3c. 
|
3d. 
|
3e. 
|
3f. 
Reference
1. Jensen MC, Brant-Zawadzki MN, Obuchowski N, Modic MT, Malkasian D, Ross JS. "Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lumbar Spine in People Without Backpain." The New England Journal of Medicine. July 14, 1994 - volume 331, number 2, pages 69-73.
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