Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Discogenic low back pain is a loss of lower back function with pain. While the external outline of the disc remains intact, and multiple processes (degeneration, end plate injury, inflammation, etc.) can internally stimulate pain receptors inside the disc without nerve root symptoms. Additionally, there is no root symptom, and no radiological evidence of segmental activities.
OBJECTIVE: To overview the pathology, clinical diagnostic specificity, sensitivity and security and controversial point of diagnostic methods on discogenic low back pain.
METHODS: The first author searched literatures related to the diagnosis of discogenic low back pain from CNKI, PubMed and EMBASE databases from 1970 to 2010. Repetitive articles were excluded,
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Totally 42 papers were selected. At present, there are several clinical diagnostic methods of discogenic low back pain according to the pathological changes, including centralization phenomenon and bony vibration test in physical examinations, the “dark” discs, high-density zones and Modic changes on MRI, discography disc ultrasound examination,   and the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in serology. Lumbar discography which has high sensitivity and specificity is the preferred diagnostic method.