Frequency of unexpected and important histopathological findings in routine intervertebral disc surgery

Abstract

Object: The value of routine histopathological examination of intervertebral disc tissue has been questioned, but sufficient numbers of studies have yet to be conducted to provide a definitive sense of its importance. The aim of this study was to investigate the nature and frequency of unexpected histopathological findings in intervertebral disc surgery.

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective examination of consecutive surgical specimens obtained in patients with benign indication for discectomy at four neurosurgical centers. Surgical specimens obtained during 2102 operations (2177 intervertebral discs) in 2017 patients were evaluated. In addition to one case of cavernous malformation, two specimens (obtained in 0.1% of patients) revealed unexpected pathological diagnoses of malignancy (metastasized prostate carcinoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma).

Conclusions: The results of this retrospective study suggest that routine histopathological examination of specimens obtained during intervertebral disc procedures is both justified and cost effective.