[Diagnostic importance of CT examination of the lumbosacral region of patients with lumbo-sciatica (author's transl].

In 160 patients with lumbo-sciatic complaints, CT examinations of the lumbo-sacral region were carried out. In 106 of these cases, which were controlled by myelography and/or operation, the CT diagnosis was correct in 74%. In 19%, the CT findings were uncertain, and in 7% they were wrong. A reliable CT diagnosis could be made mainly in the case of a medial or medio-lateral disc herniation of a size above 0.5 cm in diameter if the patient was not operated previously, and in extremely lateral prolapses into the intervertebral foramen without myelographic changes. Small medial protrusions, specially within a narrow spinal canal, or postoperative controls often gave rise to uncertain findings. However, osseous changes as compressions of the lateral recess or the narrow spine syndrome were demonstrated usually better by CT than on routine radiograms. Nevertheless, the indication for the performance of a lumbo-sacral CT should be kept narrow and should be limited to cases with clear-cut radicular signs.