THORACIC DISC HERNIATION AND SPINAL-CORD COMPRESSION - MRI AND GADOLINIUM-ENHANCEMENT

The authors present a study of 6 patients aimed at assessing the role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging with gadolinium-enhancement in the diagn osis of thoracic disc herniation. The results of MRI were compared wit h the findings of computed tomography, myelography and surgery. In two patients, the signal from the herniated disc was so low on all sequen ces that thoracic disc herniation was diagnosed only on the mass effec t on the cord. The anterior longitudinal epidural venous plexus (AEVP) is displaced posteriorly and thickened in case of thoracic disc herni ation. Gadolinium-enhancement of AEVP was marked in these conditions, giving a << tent-like >> round configuration, or << lifted band >> app earance. The exact volume and mass effect of the thoracic disc herniat ion were assessed by T1-enhanced images on the sagittal and axial plan es.