Can gas and infection coexist in the intervertebral disc? A retrospective analysis of percutaneously biopsied suspected discitis-osteomyelitis cases.

CT is the preferred method for detecting intradiscal gas. The presence of gas means that discitis-osteomyelitis is unlikely. If intradiscal gas is present in the setting of discitis-osteomyelitis, the gas bubbles tend to be smaller and fewer in number.