An etiology and imaging analysis of sciatica derived from non-spine and its attachments

Abstract

Objective To explore the etiology and imaging features of sciatica derived from non-spine and its attachments. Methods The imaging and clinical materials in 30 patients of sciatica derived from non-spine and its attachments diagnosed on pathology and clinical sympotom were analyzed retrospectively. Results The etiology of sciatica derived from non-spine and its attachments included tumor, infection, diseases in lumbosacral spinal canal and piriformis syndrome in 23 cases, and its manifestation was nerve trunk pain or nerve root pain. Sciatica could also be caused by systemic disease like diabetes mellitus, gout and ankylosing spondylitis (7 cases), and its manifestation was mixed with nerve root pain and nerve trunk pain. Conclusion Sciatica derived from non-spine and its attachments is not rare in clinical practice which may be misdiagnosed, and comprehensive imaging evaluation is mandatory for etiology diagnosis. Key words: Sciatica; Tomography, X-ray; Magentic resonance imaging