Abstract

Schmorl’s node is formed when the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc herniates upward or downward an adjacent vertebral endplate or subchondral trabeculae. Some Schmorl’s nodes may present as big cystic lesions, differing significantly from the typical form. This study reports a rare case of Schmorl’s node with cavitation, a presentation distinct from both classic and cystic Schmorl’s nodes. We present a case of a 44-year-old male with neck pain and restricted cervical motion, whose skeletal scintigraphy showed a cavitated Schmorl’s node, which might be caused by upward nucleus pulposus of the intravertebral disc into a cervical vertebra, presumed by magnetic resonance images. This report describes a rare case of cavitated Schmorl’s node and highlights its unique imaging characteristics. It demonstrates that conservative treatment can be an effective approach for managing cavitated Schmorl’s nodes.

Keywords

Schmorl’s node, cystic lesion, Schmorl’s node with cavitation, herniated disc, intravertebral hernia, spinal disc, scintigraphic rehabilitation