Intraspinal gas

Abstract

Intraspinal gas can be observed in a number of pathological settings including degenerative disc disease, infection, tumor or trauma, and in patients who have undergone therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. The air can be epidural, intradural or intradiscal. Intraspinal gas is usually asymptomatic. We report intraspinal gas in three patients, one with cervical, one with thoracic, and one with lumber disc disease and spondylolisthesis. The investigations were all completed at the the same medical center and CT and MRI were done in each case. The gas was in the epidural space in all three patients. These cases provide further evidence that intraspinal gas may persist without causing symptoms, and that resultant symptoms can disappear spontaneously. MRI is not reliable for diagnosing intraspinal gas; CT is recommended.

Epidural Gas Accumulation in Connection with Canine Degenerative Lumbosacral Disease

“…The VP is caused by the accumulation of gas in the IVD as it degenerates or the extrusion of nucleus pulposus material (Hansen type l herniation). It has also been associated with infection, invasive procedures, and trauma to the IVD (17, 22, 32, 33). The spaces created within the IVD fill up with nitrogen-containing gases that were originally dissolved in the extracellular fluid and diffuse into areas of subatmospheric pressure during the movement of the IVD (22, 34).…”

Pseudokystes gazeux lombaires épiduraux, une cause rare de douleur radiculaire sévère

“…Le diagnostic de gaz à l'IRM était défini par une région hypo-intense ou un signal d'intensité vide en séquences pondérées T1-et T2. L'utilisation du scanner peut aider au diagnostic de kystes gazeux [2,[9][10][11].…”

Surgical Experience of Gas-Containing Disk Herniation

“…A few symptomatic cases of gas within the spine, the so-called intraspinal gas, epidural gas, or gas-containing pseudocysts, were identified by CT, MR imaging, or both. 5,6,12,26) Many patients have had a good response to conservative treatments or percutaneous procedures. 5,9,23) The present series of 18 patients with symptomatic GCDH were all treated successfully with surgery.…”