differential diagnosis of cervical disc prolapse
Last edited 06/2018
The differential diagnosis of cervical disc prolapse is:
- cervical spondylosis due to an osteophyte - this is most often indistinguishable from disc prolapse
- neuralgic amyotrophy - pain is acute, severe, and localised to the shoulder rather than the neck
- cervical spine infections - in this condition the local spasm is severe and the pain is constant. X-rays reveal erosion of the vertebral end-plates
- cervical tumours - a tumour will cause a progressive neurological disturbance. X-rays will reveal destruction of bone