Black Disc

Last edit by Alaric Steinmetz on

The term “Black Disc” refers to the phenomenon of an intervertebral disc appearing dark and therefore hypointense on the T2-weighted sequence in MRI imaging.

Pathophysiology

Over the course of life, the nucleus of the intervertebral disc becomes dehydrated and loses water. On MRI, this disc appears black, hence the term “Black Disc.” Causes of this process include genetic factors, metabolic changes, and external stresses.

Imaging

On MRI imaging, a “Black Disc” appears with reduced signal on T2 imaging[^1] [^2].

Black Disc MRI
Visualization of the black disc phenomenon on a sagittal T2 sequence of the lumbar spine.

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