Perspective - Journal of Molecular Oncology Research (2023) Volume 7, Issue 4
Etiology and epidemiology of degenerative cervical disc disease
It has long been believed that cervical intervertebral discs are a typical cause of neck pain. However, the pain brought on by the disc itself has not yet been identified with certainty; diagnosis and therapy have always remained debatable. Degenerative cervical discs are prone to inflammation, have an abundant supply of nerve fibres and are sensitive to discomfort that can be triggered by disc stimulation or distention and relieved by block. The vast majority of clinical evidence shows that anterior cervical surgery can effectively relieve neck pain in patients with degenerative cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy, further proving that this neck discomfort is caused by the pathology of the cervical disc. The only test that links symptoms of disease to cervical discography is promoted, but the process continues to be debatable. Discriminating between painful, symptomatic discs and nonpainful, asymptomatic discs using discography requires strict criteria and methodology. A significant fraction of persistent neck pain is caused by discogenic neck pain alone, without cervical disc herniation or cervical spondylosis.
Author(s): Vulink Desar