Diseases

Discitis

Inflammation of an INTERVERTEBRAL DISC or disk space which may lead to disk erosion. Until recently, discitis has been defined as a nonbacterial inflammation and has been attributed to aseptic processes (e.g., chemical reaction to an injected substance). However, recent studies provide evidence that infection may be the initial cause, but perhaps not the promoter, of most cases of discitis. Discitis has been diagnosed in patients following discography, myelography, lumbar puncture, paravertebral injection, and obstetrical epidural anesthesia. Discitis following chemonucleolysis (especially with chymopapain) is attributed to chemical reaction by some and to introduction of microorganisms by others.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Inflammation of an INTERVERTEBRAL DISC or disk space which may lead to disk erosion. Until recently, discitis has been defined as a nonbacterial inflammation and has been attributed to aseptic processes (e.g., chemical reaction to an injected substance). However, recent studies provide evidence that infection may be the initial cause, but perhaps not the promoter, of most cases of discitis. Discitis has been diagnosed in patients following discography, myelography, lumbar puncture, paravertebral injection, and obstetrical epidural anesthesia. Discitis following chemonucleolysis (especially with chymopapain) is attributed to chemical reaction by some and to introduction of microorganisms by others.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

7 entry terms
  • Diskitis
  • Spondylodiscitis
  • Spondylodiskitis
  • Discitides
  • Diskitides
  • Spondylodiscitides
  • Spondylodiskitides

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

35 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

coord IM with specific vertebrae (IM)

MeSH Record

History Note

89

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Intervertebral Disk (1966-1988)
  • Spinal Diseases (1966-1988)
  • Spondylitis (1966-1988)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C01w.160w.762w.301w
  2. C05w.116w.165w.762w.301w
  3. C05w.116w.900w.853w.500w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Discitis. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D015299. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D015299
  2. Discitis. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discitis
  3. Discitis. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2312030