An Update of the Systematic Appraisal of the
Accuracy and Utility of Discography in Chronic
Spinal Pain
Authors: Manchikanti Laxmaiah 
Published: October 2019

Background: The intervertebral disc has been implicated as a major cause of chronic spinal pain based
on clinical, basic science, and epidemiological research. There is, however, a lack of consensus regarding
the diagnosis and treatment of intervertebral disc disorders. Based on controlled evaluations, lumbar
intervertebral discs have been shown to be the source of chronic back pain without disc herniation
in 26% to 39% of patients, and in 16% to 53% of patients with pain in the cervical spine. Lumbar,
cervical, and thoracic provocation discography, which includes disc stimulation and morphological
evaluation, is often used to distinguish a painful disc from other potential sources of pain. Despite the
extensive literature on point, intense debate continues about lumbar discography as a diagnostic tool.
Study Design: A systematic review of the diagnostic accuracy of lumbar, cervical, and thoracic
provocation and analgesic discography literature.
Objective: To systematically assess and re-evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of lumbar, cervical, and
thoracic discography.
Methods: The available literature on discography was reviewed. A methodological quality assessment
of included studies was performed using the Quality Appraisal of Reliability Studies (QAREL) checklist.
Only diagnostic accuracy studies meeting at least 50% of the designated inclusion criteria were included
in the analysis.
To assess the level of evidence, a modified grading of qualitative evidence criteria was utilized, with
grading of evidence into 5 categories from Level I to Level V incorporating evidence obtained from
multiple high quality diagnostic accuracy studies for Level I and opinion or consensus of a large group
of clinicians and/or scientists for Level V. Data sources included relevant literature identified through
searches of PubMed and EMBASE from 1966 to June 2017, and manual searches of the bibliographies
of known primary and review articles.
Results: Over 100 manuscripts were considered for inclusion. Of these, 8 studies met inclusion criteria
for diagnostic accuracy and prevalence with 5 studies assessing lumbar provocation discography and 3
studies assessing cervical discography. The results showed variable prevalence from 16.9% to 26% for
discogenic pain and 16.9% to 42% for internal disc disruption. The cervical discogenic pain prevalence
ranged from 16% to 53%. Based on methodological quality assessment criteria the strength of
evidence for lumbar provocation discography is Level III and for cervical discogenic pain is Level IV.
Limitations: Despite multiple publications in the lumbar spine, value and validity of discography
continues to be debated. In reference to cervical and thoracic discography, the available literature and
value and validity continues to be low.
Conclusion: This systematic review illustrates that lumbar provocation discography performed
according to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) criteria may be a useful tool
for evaluating chronic lumbar discogenic pain. The evidence is weaker for cervical and nonexistent for
thoracic discography.
Key words: Lumbar intervertebral disc, cervical intervertebral disc, thoracic intervertebral disc,
discography, provocation discography, analgesic discography, diagnostic accuracy, prevalence