Normal Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Abnormal Discography in Lumbar Disc Disruption

STUDY DESIGN: This report describes a clinical series of seven patients who had surgically proven internal disc disruption, normal magnetic resonance imaging, and abnormal discograms morphologically. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Numerous reports in the literature have described the utility of magnetic resonance imaging and discography in diagnosing degenerative disease within lumbar intervertebral discs. RESULTS: Discography may be useful in patients with persistent symptoms despite a normal or equivocal magnetic resonance imaging study.