Discography

Abstract

Provocative discography has conventionally been performed to localize the "pain generator" disk in patients with history of low back pain (LBP) that has failed conservative treatment. It is usually undertaken when surgical intervention is being contemplated. It is almost never used as the first test in the diagnostic work-up of discogenic LBP. The procedure involves injection of contrast agent into the nucleus pulposus of the disk under image intensifier guidance and assessing patient's response to contrast injection. Indications and technical details of the procedure have been described. Newer advances along with its current status as a diagnostic modality for discogenic LBP have also been discussed. A brief mention of cervical and thoracic discography is made. Copyright © 2013 by Lippincott Williams &Wilkins.