Open AccessAcute calcific discitis or symptomatic calcified schmorl's node of the upper thoracic spine in an adult: A case report and literature review
Author(s) -
Prasert Iampreechakul,
Punjama Lertbutsayanukul,
Narupat Suanprasert
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
asian journal of neurosurgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2248-9614
DOI - 10.4103/ajns.ajns_119_19
Subject(s) - medicine , discitis , calcification , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology , back pain , radiography , intervertebral disc , thoracic vertebrae , edema , lumbar vertebrae , surgery , lumbar , pathology , alternative medicine
We describe a patient with acute calcific discitis following symptomatic Schmorl's node (SN) of upper thoracic spine. A 28-year-old female suffered from sudden severe pain in mid-thoracic, left scapular area, radiating to her chest. Plain radiography of the thoracic spine showed calcification in T3-4 intervertebral disc space. Computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine demonstrated calcification of the T3-T4 nucleus pulposus, migrating into the inferior of T3 vertebral body with reactive bone marrow edema. By conservative treatment with multidrug therapy, the pain subsided and disappeared in 3 months. Follow-up CT scan and MRI of the thoracic spine confirmed complete resolution of calcified SN and reactive bone marrow edema.