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Purpose <p>Giant thoracic disc herniations (GTDH) are rare but severe lesions that may lead to significant spinal cord compression and neurological impairment. These herniations are frequently calcified, increasing the risk of irreversible damage. The aim of this preliminary case series is to provide a descriptive histological analysis of surgically removed calcified GTDH in three adult patients.</p> Methods <p>All the three patients underwent anterior transthoracic surgical excision, which is commonly adopted due to the anterior location of the compression. The harvested disc tissue was submitted for histopathological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin staining only.</p> Results <p>Histology revealed degenerative fibrocartilaginous tissue with dystrophic calcifications, consistent with disc-derived material rather than isolated ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.</p> Conclusion <p>This observation contributes to the descriptive characterization of calcified GTDH and challenges recent alternative hypotheses. Due do the limited sample size and descriptive methodology, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating. Further research is warranted to better understand the etiopathogenesis and guide evidence-based therapeutic strategies for this rare but clinically relevant condition.</p>

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A preliminary descriptive study on the histology of giant calcified disc herniations: a case series

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月29日

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  • Riccardo Cecchinato,
  • Alessandra Colombini,
  • Barbara Rubino,
  • Daniele Vanni,
  • Luca Maria Sconfienza,
  • Pedro Berjano

摘要

Purpose

Giant thoracic disc herniations (GTDH) are rare but severe lesions that may lead to significant spinal cord compression and neurological impairment. These herniations are frequently calcified, increasing the risk of irreversible damage. The aim of this preliminary case series is to provide a descriptive histological analysis of surgically removed calcified GTDH in three adult patients.

Methods

All the three patients underwent anterior transthoracic surgical excision, which is commonly adopted due to the anterior location of the compression. The harvested disc tissue was submitted for histopathological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin staining only.

Results

Histology revealed degenerative fibrocartilaginous tissue with dystrophic calcifications, consistent with disc-derived material rather than isolated ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Conclusion

This observation contributes to the descriptive characterization of calcified GTDH and challenges recent alternative hypotheses. Due do the limited sample size and descriptive methodology, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating. Further research is warranted to better understand the etiopathogenesis and guide evidence-based therapeutic strategies for this rare but clinically relevant condition.