Disappearing large calcified thoracic disc herniation in a patient with thalassaemia

Faiz U Ahmad; Erica Schallert; Amade Bregy; Judith D Post; Steven Vanni

doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-213166

Disappearing large calcified thoracic disc herniation in a patient with thalassaemia

BMJ Case Rep. 2016 Jan 28:2016:bcr2015213166. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2015-213166.

Authors

Faiz U Ahmad¹, Erica Schallert², Amade Bregy³, Judith D Post⁴, Steven Vanni⁴

Affiliations

¹ Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
² Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX.
³ University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.
⁴ University of Miami, Miami FL.

Abstract

Regression of herniated disc fragments with subsequent improvement in clinical symptoms has been reported in the lumbar and cervical spine. Such regressions in the thoracic spine are extremely rare. We report a case of a 38-year-old patient with thalassaemia who had regression of a large calcified herniated thoracic disc causing cord compression, with subsequent herniation of a second calcified disc at a different level and discuss the possible aetiopathogenesis. This is the first such case reported in the thalassaemia population.

2016 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Arthralgia / etiology*
Back Pain / etiology*
Calcinosis / complications
Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging*
Calcinosis / pathology
Cervical Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging*
Cervical Vertebrae / pathology
Fatigue / etiology*
Female
Humans
Intervertebral Disc Displacement / diagnostic imaging*
Intervertebral Disc Displacement / pathology
Radiography
Remission, Spontaneous
Spinal Cord Compression / diagnostic imaging*
Spinal Cord Compression / etiology
Spinal Cord Compression / pathology
Thalassemia / complications*
Thalassemia / physiopathology
Watchful Waiting