Thoracic intervertebral disc calcification and herniation in adults: a report of two cases

Abstract

Acute paraplegia due to thoracic intervertebral disc protrusion and calcification is rare. The purpose of this study was to report two cases with acute paraplegia due to a calcified thoracic disc prolapse, and discuss its clinical diagnosis and surgical treatment with literature reviews. These two cases were verified by patient history, physical examination, laboratory examination, CT and MRI studies, and pathological findings. CT scan revealed disc calcification and protrusion at the T11-12 level in case 1 and at the T10-11 level in case 2, respectively. MRI images revealed severe spinal cord compression with a hyperintense central core and surrounding hypointense area in two cases, which were directly connected to the calcified intervertebral nucleus pulposus. Pathological examination revealed calcium deposition. Patients underwent discectomy followed by interbody fusion, and satisfactory therapeutic outcomes were obtained. We suggest that decompression surgery should be carried out as early as possible for patients with early spinal myelopathy or paraplegia caused by a calcified protruded disc.