Presentation
Work up for low back pain
Patient Data
Age: 65 years
Gender: Female
From the case:
Intervertebral disc vacuum phenomenon
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Degenerative changes are seen as multilevel endplate sclerosis and irregularity with osteophytosis. There are focal lucencies at anterior aspects of L2-3, L3-4 and L4-5 disk spaces in the endplates' vicinity, suggesting intervertebral disc vacuum phenomenon.
Case Discussion
The Intervertebral disc vacuum phenomenon refers to the accumulation of gas within the intervertebral disc space adjacent to the endplates, usually due to degenerative changes.
Notice that other processes leading to discs containing gas include vertebral osteomyelitis, Schmorl node formation, spondylosis deformans, and vertebral collapse with osteonecrosis.