Characterization of tissue components in the XXXX disc and posterior disc attachment region: internal derangement and control autopsy specimens compared by morphometry.

@entity1 @entity130 @entity2720 @entity1348
PURPOSE: Our aim was to morphologically investigate the occurrence of fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and blood vessels in the tissue of the @entity1348 ( @entity1348 ) disc, the intermediate zone, and the posterior disc attachment region in control autopsy specimens and to compare the results with those observed in corresponding tissues from @entity1 with @entity1348 internal derangement. @entity1 AND METHODS: First, 20 bilateral @entity1348 disc specimens from selected autopsy cases were analyzed by conventional morphometry. Thus, the volume density of fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and blood vessels was determined. Second, the obtained results from the right joint of the autopsy disc specimens were compared with 12 @entity1348 disc specimens obtained at surgery from @entity1 with internal derangement. RESULTS: The tissue compartments of interest (disc, intermediate zone, and posterior disc attachment region) were identified unequivocally in all specimens. None of the autopsy cases showed any significant difference between the right and @entity2720 or related to gender. The only variable that differed between autopsy and @entity1 specimens was volume density of blood vessels, which was higher in @entity1 specimens. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the volume density of blood vessels was significantly higher in the posterior disc attachment region in @entity1 specimens than in autopsy controls. Whether this reflects a role for vessels in the pathogenesis of @entity1348 internal derangement or merely is a reaction to another @entity130 remains to be settled. In both the autopsy control and @entity1 specimens, chondrocytes and fibroblasts were characteristic for disc respective posterior disc attachment region. Thus it appears that the occurrence of these cells can be used to distinguish @entity1348 disc from posterior disc attachment in small biopsy specimens.
