CT and MRI in the evaluation of extraspinal sciatica

Br J Radiol. 2010 Sep;83(993):791-803. doi: 10.1259/bjr/76002141. Epub 2010 Jul 20.

Abstract

Sciatica is the most frequently encountered symptom in neurosurgical practice and is observed in 40% of adults at some point in their lives. It is described as pain of the hip and the lower extremity secondary to pathologies affecting the sciatic nerve within its intraspinal or extraspinal course. The most frequent cause is a herniating lumbar disc pressing on the neural roots. Extraspinal causes of sciatic pain are usually overlooked because they are extremely rare and due to intraspinal causes (lumbar spinal stenosis, facet joint osteoarthritis, fracture, and tumors of the spinal cord and spinal column) being the main consideration. Early diagnosis of sciatica significantly improves the likelihood of relieving symptoms, as well as avoiding any additional neurologic injury and unnecessary surgery. We evaluate histolopathologically confirmed extraspinal causes of sciatica cases, accompanied by their presented computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging findings.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sciatic Nerve* / anatomy & histology
  • Sciatic Nerve* / diagnostic imaging
  • Sciatica / diagnosis*
  • Sciatica / physiopathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*