Unusual presentation of thoracic disc herniation.

A 24-year-old patient with thoracic disc herniation mimicking lumbar disc disease is reported. While getting out of his car the patient suffered an acute onset of lumbar pain radiating down to the buttock and vaguely into the abdomen on the right. Myelography and computed tomography demonstrated a centrolateral noncalcified disc herniation at T10-11, in close relation to a Schmorl's node. The different clinical presentations of thoracic disc herniation are discussed.