Journal Information
Review article
Pre-proof, online 3 July 2025
Is there such a thing as black disc disease?
¿EXISTE LA ENFERMEDAD DEL DISCO NEGRO?
Giancarlo Mattos Piaggio, Esteban Quevedo Orrego, Emilio González Martínez, Javier Ibañez Plágaro, José García- Cosamalón
Servicio de Neurocirugía. Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León-España, C/. Altos de Nava s/n, 2408 León, España
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Abstract
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RESUMEN

El estudio de la patología degenerativa del disco intervertebral (DIV) con resonancia magnética (RM), ha generado una terminología tan extensa y ambigua que crea confusión. La pérdida de intensidad de señal del núcleo pulposo (ISNP) en la secuencia T2 de la RM, secundaria a la precoz disminución del contenido acuoso, es descrita de forma genérica como “black disc”, término difundido como sinónimo de “enfermedad degenerativa discal”. Por otro lado, para designar a un disco deshidratado, supuestamente sintomático, se han introducido las siguientes denominaciones: “painful black disc”, “black disc syndrome” y “black disc disease”. De esta manera, la deshidratación fisiológica del núcleo pulposo (NP), ubicua en toda la población a partir de la tercera década, es considerada, arbitrariamente, un presunto marcador radiológico de dolor lumbar discogénico (DLD), con el consiguiente riesgo de ser blanco de intervenciones innecesarias. Los discos deshidratados sospechosos de ser fuente de dolor presentan, además, de la disminución de ISNP, otros signos degenerativos como son: una zona de alta intensidad (HIZ) en la parte posterior del anillo fibroso (AF), protrusión, pérdida de altura o cambios Modic.

Palabras clave:
Enfermedad del disco negro
Deshidratación del núcleo pulposo
Dolor lumbar discogénico
ABSTRACT

The study of degenerative pathology of the intervertebral disc (IVD) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has generated such an extensive and ambiguous terminology that it causes confusion. The loss of the nucleus pulposus signal intensity (ISNP) in the T2 sequence of MRI, secondary to the early decrease in water content, is generally described as “black disc”, a term spread as a synonym for degenerative disc disease. On the other hand, to designate a supposedly symptomatic dehydrated disc, the following names have been introduced: “painful black disc”, “black disc syndrome” and “black disc disease”. In this way, the physiological dehydration of the NP present in the entire population from the third decade on, is arbitrarily considered a presumed radiological marker of discogenic back pain, with the consequent risk of being the target of unnecessary interventions. Dehydrated discs suspected of being a source of pain present, in addition to the decrease in ISNP, other radiological signs such as a high intensity zone (HIZ) in the posterior part of the annulus fibrosus (AF), protrusion, loss of height or Modic changes.

Keywords:
Black disc disease
Dehydration of the nucleus pulposus
Discogenic low back pain

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