Thoracic disk herniation presenting as abdominal and pelvic pain: A case report

We report the case of a young woman who presented with a 2-month history of severe abdominal and pelvic pain. The past history was significant for a f all from a bicycle I week before the onset of her pain. Physical examinatio n was remarkable for periumbilical tenderness. Work-up including pelvic son ogram and diagnostic laparoscopy suggested endomyometritis. The pain was mi nimally relieved by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and narcotic analg esics. Thoracic spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large dis k herniation at the T9-10 level compressing the spinal cord. The patient su bsequently underwent T9-10 diskectomy and laminectomy with dramatic relief of her symptoms. Postoperative rehabilitation hastened her functional impro vement. This is a rare case of symptomatic thoracic disk herniation after t rauma presenting as abdominal and pelvic pain. Physicians should be aware o f this unusual presentation of thoracic disk herniation to avoid invasive d iagnostic procedures.