Diagnostic value of computed tomography in recurrent pain after discectomy.

Intravenously enhanced computed tomography (CT) was used in patients in whom the differential diagnosis between recurrent herniated disc and postoperative scar was considered. Enhanced CT images demonstrated postoperative herniated discs more accurately than clinical criteria, myelography, or plain or postmetrizamide CT. The scar tissue shows contrast enhancement, but recurrent disc herniation does not. Therefore, contrast-enhanced CT is considered to be a valuable aid in distinguishing between recurrent disc herniation and hypertropic scar formation.