Acute Calcific Discitis or Symptomatic Calcified Schmorl's Node of the Upper Thoracic Spine in an Adult: A Case Report and Literature Review.

We describe a patient with acute calcific discitis following symptomatic Schmorl's node (SN) of upper thoracic spine. A 28-year-old female suffered from sudden severe pain in mid-thoracic, left scapular area, radiating to her chest. Plain radiography of the thoracic spine showed calcification in T3-4 intervertebral disc space. Computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine demonstrated calcification of the T3-T4 nucleus pulposus, migrating into the inferior of T3 vertebral body with reactive bone marrow edema. By conservative treatment with multidrug therapy, the pain subsided and disappeared in 3 months. Follow-up CT scan and MRI of the thoracic spine confirmed complete resolution of calcified SN and reactive bone marrow edema.