Atypical Presentation of Thoracic Disc Herniation: Case Series and Review of the Literature
Modern imaging has revealed that thoracic disc herniation (TDH) has a prevalence of 11–37% in asymptomatic patients. Pain, sensory disturbances, myelopathy, and lower extremity weakness are the most common presenting symptoms, but other atypical extraspinal complaints, such as gastrointestinal or ca...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2013-01-01
|
| Series: | Case Reports in Orthopedics |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/621476 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832563052034129920 |
|---|---|
| author | Ali Shirzadi Doniel Drazin Sunil Jeswani Leah Lovely John Liu |
| author_facet | Ali Shirzadi Doniel Drazin Sunil Jeswani Leah Lovely John Liu |
| author_sort | Ali Shirzadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Modern imaging has revealed that thoracic disc herniation (TDH) has a prevalence of 11–37% in asymptomatic patients. Pain, sensory disturbances, myelopathy, and lower extremity weakness are the most common presenting symptoms, but other atypical extraspinal complaints, such as gastrointestinal or cardiopulmonary discomfort, may be reported. Our objective is to make providers familiar with TDH’s atypical symptoms to help avoid potential serious consequences created by a delay in diagnosis. We report the cases of two patients who each presented with atypical extraspinal symptoms secondary to a TDH. One patient presented with a chronic history of nausea, emesis, and chest tightness and MRI showed a large right paramedian disc herniation at T7-8. A second patient reported chronic constipation, buttock and leg burning pain, gait instability, and urinary frequency; an MRI of his thoracic spine demonstrated a central disc herniation at T10-11. TDH can present with vague extraspinal symptoms and unfamiliarity with these symptoms can lead to misdiagnosis with progression of the disease and unnecessary diagnostic tests and medical procedures. Therefore, TDH should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with negative gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and cardiopulmonary system basic studies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d483d3f849d04f708db09d3196ded8e7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-6749 2090-6757 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Reports in Orthopedics |
| spelling | doaj-art-d483d3f849d04f708db09d3196ded8e72025-02-03T01:21:08ZengWileyCase Reports in Orthopedics2090-67492090-67572013-01-01201310.1155/2013/621476621476Atypical Presentation of Thoracic Disc Herniation: Case Series and Review of the LiteratureAli Shirzadi0Doniel Drazin1Sunil Jeswani2Leah Lovely3John Liu4Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8631 West Third Street, Suite 800E, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8631 West Third Street, Suite 800E, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8631 West Third Street, Suite 800E, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8631 West Third Street, Suite 800E, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8631 West Third Street, Suite 800E, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USAModern imaging has revealed that thoracic disc herniation (TDH) has a prevalence of 11–37% in asymptomatic patients. Pain, sensory disturbances, myelopathy, and lower extremity weakness are the most common presenting symptoms, but other atypical extraspinal complaints, such as gastrointestinal or cardiopulmonary discomfort, may be reported. Our objective is to make providers familiar with TDH’s atypical symptoms to help avoid potential serious consequences created by a delay in diagnosis. We report the cases of two patients who each presented with atypical extraspinal symptoms secondary to a TDH. One patient presented with a chronic history of nausea, emesis, and chest tightness and MRI showed a large right paramedian disc herniation at T7-8. A second patient reported chronic constipation, buttock and leg burning pain, gait instability, and urinary frequency; an MRI of his thoracic spine demonstrated a central disc herniation at T10-11. TDH can present with vague extraspinal symptoms and unfamiliarity with these symptoms can lead to misdiagnosis with progression of the disease and unnecessary diagnostic tests and medical procedures. Therefore, TDH should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with negative gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and cardiopulmonary system basic studies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/621476 |
| spellingShingle | Ali Shirzadi Doniel Drazin Sunil Jeswani Leah Lovely John Liu Atypical Presentation of Thoracic Disc Herniation: Case Series and Review of the Literature Case Reports in Orthopedics |
| title | Atypical Presentation of Thoracic Disc Herniation: Case Series and Review of the Literature |
| title_full | Atypical Presentation of Thoracic Disc Herniation: Case Series and Review of the Literature |
| title_fullStr | Atypical Presentation of Thoracic Disc Herniation: Case Series and Review of the Literature |
| title_full_unstemmed | Atypical Presentation of Thoracic Disc Herniation: Case Series and Review of the Literature |
| title_short | Atypical Presentation of Thoracic Disc Herniation: Case Series and Review of the Literature |
| title_sort | atypical presentation of thoracic disc herniation case series and review of the literature |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/621476 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alishirzadi atypicalpresentationofthoracicdischerniationcaseseriesandreviewoftheliterature AT donieldrazin atypicalpresentationofthoracicdischerniationcaseseriesandreviewoftheliterature AT suniljeswani atypicalpresentationofthoracicdischerniationcaseseriesandreviewoftheliterature AT leahlovely atypicalpresentationofthoracicdischerniationcaseseriesandreviewoftheliterature AT johnliu atypicalpresentationofthoracicdischerniationcaseseriesandreviewoftheliterature |