Discography is a diagnostic procedure used to evaluate spinal discs and identify the source of pain.
This procedure involves placing needles into the disc at the spinal level being studied. Under live fluoroscopy, radio-opaque dye is injected, allowing the disc to be visualized. Intradiscal pressure is also monitored during the procedure.
In many cases, a follow-up CT scan is obtained to provide additional diagnostic information.
There are two key components to the diagnosis. The first is the patient’s response to the injected dye, including whether their typical pain is reproduced.
The second component includes the pressure at which pain occurs, the appearance of the disc, the pattern of dye distribution, and findings from the follow-up CT scan.
Evidence of annular fissures or tears, the degree of disc degeneration, and the correlation with pain reproduction can help guide further therapeutic interventions.