Quinnell R C, Stockdale H R
Br J Radiol. 1980 Sep;53(633):831-9. doi: 10.1259/0007-1285-53-633-831.
An artefact of lumbar discography which can confuse or negate delineation of the nucleus pulposus is presented. This artefact is the inadvertent injection of contrast medium into a cavity which is not the true nuclear cavity. A positive diagnosis cannot be made in this situation, normality has not been proven and, in particular, the presence of a protrusion of the nucleus through the annulus fibrosus may not have been demonstrated. Hypotheses are proposed to explain the occurrence of these artefactual injections.