Summary
The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of sonography of the lower lumbar intervertebral discs. The results in 50 patients were compared to lumbar myelography. A short description of the sonographic appearance of the normal and pathological lumbar disc is given. The sonographic examination was inconclusive in 18% of the patients because of obesity, meteorism or diminuition of the intervertebral disc space. In nearly half of these patients a herniation was found at myelography and confirmed at surgery. The study revealed a sensitivity varying from 0.63 to 0.77. Compared to lumbar myelography and CT scanning we find this too low to support its addition in lumbar disc disease because of non-invasiveness or lack of radiation alone.
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Merx, J.L., Thijssen, H.O.M., Meyer, E. et al. Accuracy of ultrasonic evaluation of lumbar intervertebral discs by an anterior approach. Neuroradiology 31, 386–390 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00343861
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00343861