Abstract
Calcific discitis seems to be a rare cause of back pain in adults. Imaging shows a
calcification of the nucleus pulposus with extension through the endplates on computed
tomography. This can be accompanied by bone marrow edema on magnetic resonance imaging.
In a retrospective review of 150 patients, 4 cases of calcific discitis were found
(2.8%). None of the patients reported about back pain. Therefore, it seems that symptomatic
cases of calcific discitis are a rare occurrence in contrast to the quite frequent
incidental finding of asymptomatic cases on imaging. Knowledge of the various imaging
appearances of calcific discitis is necessary for radiologists, because especially
in acute cases with substantial bone marrow edema, this benign entity may be confused
with infectious spondylodiscitis or malignancy.
Keywords
spinal imaging - calcific discitis - prevalence - incidental finding
