Devkota Shritik, Rathi Hritika, Lamichhane Samiksha
Department of Radiodiagnosis & Imaging, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
Department of Radiodiagnosis & Imaging, Anil Baghi Hospital, Punjab, 152002, India.
Oxf Med Case Reports. 2025 May 28;2025(5):omaf027. doi: 10.1093/omcr/omaf027. eCollection 2025 May.
An intervertebral disc is a pliable, cushioning structure present between the vertebrae in the spine. It functions as a shock absorber, minimizing friction and facilitating movement between the spinal bones. Degenerative changes are viewed as responses to injuries, whether mechanical or metabolic, rather than as distinct diseases. Degenerative disc disease is a frequent etiology of low back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) commonly demonstrates disc desiccation, degeneration, herniation or protrusion, osteophyte formation, and facet joint arthropathy. In this case report we have specifically addressed a component of degenerative disc disease which is seen as an uncommon MRI finding of focal intradiscal fat. Although the direct impact of focal intradiscal fat on patient outcomes is not fully understood, it typically indicates advanced disc degeneration. Recognizing this finding can assist clinicians in diagnosing the extent of disc degeneration and developing appropriate treatment plans for patients with low back pain or related symptoms.
椎间盘是脊柱椎骨之间的一种柔韧的缓冲结构。它起到减震器的作用，使摩擦最小化，并促进脊柱骨骼之间的运动。退行性改变被视为对损伤（无论是机械性还是代谢性损伤）的反应，而不是被视为独特的疾病。椎间盘退变疾病是下腰痛的常见病因。磁共振成像（MRI）通常显示椎间盘脱水、退变、突出或膨出、骨赘形成以及小关节病。在本病例报告中，我们专门探讨了椎间盘退变疾病的一个组成部分，即局灶性椎间盘内脂肪这一不常见的MRI表现。尽管局灶性椎间盘内脂肪对患者预后的直接影响尚未完全明确，但它通常提示椎间盘严重退变。认识到这一表现有助于临床医生诊断椎间盘退变的程度，并为下腰痛或相关症状的患者制定合适的治疗方案。
