Fatty disc: An unusual pattern of disc degeneration

Abstract

The intervertebral disc is the fibrocartilaginous structure between the endplates of adjacent vertebral bodies, providing support and mobility to the spine. Normally, the disc is isointense on the T1 weighted image (T1WI) and hyperintense on the T2 weighted image (T2WI). Degenerating disc shows loss of hyperintensity on T2WI due to disc dehydration. The development of hyperintensity on T1WI in degenerating disc is unusual. Causes of discal hyperintensity on T1WI include calcification, hemorrhage, melanin, mucin, or fat within the disc. Fat contents in the disc may be rarely seen in degeneration and appear as hyperintense signal on T1WI and T2WI. We, hereby report a case of discal hyperintensity on T1WI and T2WI due to fatty degeneration of the disc.