Discography - Benefits and Risks

No radiation remains in a patient's body after a discogram procedure.
Discography images the structural integrity of the disc(s)
Discography can aid in treatment planning
Discography is minimally invasive and is an outpatient procedure requiring no hospitalization
X-rays usually have no side effects in the typical diagnostic range for this exam.
Additional CT is painless, noninvasive and accurate.

Any procedure where the skin is penetrated carries a risk of infection. The chance of infection requiring antibiotic treatment appears to be less than one in 1,000.
There is always a slight chance of cancer from excessive exposure to radiation. However, the benefit of an accurate diagnosis far outweighs the risk.
Women should always inform their physician or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.
The effective radiation dose for this discogram procedure varies.
CT is, in general, not recommended for pregnant women unless medically necessary because of potential risk to the baby.
Nursing mothers should wait for 24 hours after contrast material injection before resuming breast-feeding.
The risk of serious allergic reaction to contrast materials that contain iodine is extremely rare, and radiology departments are well-equipped to deal with them.
A discogram is generally a safe procedure. However, there is a risk of the following complications:
- infection of the space between discs
- worsening of chronic back pain
- headache
- nausea
- injury to blood vessels or nerves in and around the spine
- bleeding
- temporary numbness or weakness
- nerve damage