The neuroradiology journal
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This study assessed the impact and modification of intradiscal, intraforaminal, epidural and intramuscular swine injection of a new material, Discogel(®)- radiopaque gelified ethanol- recently introduced for the mini-invasive treatment of herniated disc. Discogel(®) is a sterile viscous solution containing ethyl alcohol, cellulose derivative product, added to a radio-opaque element, tungsten. The pig was sedated and under fluoroscopy guidance a needle was positioned within disc L1-L2 followed by intradiscal, intraforaminal, epidural and intramuscular injection of 1 ml of Discogel. ⋯ No alteration was found where discogel was injected, and the nucleus pulposus, disc, chondromixoid and root ganglium were normal. After intradiscal, intraforaminal, epidural and intramuscular injection of Discogel(®) no morpho-structural changes in nuclear tissue and annulus were found. Further studies on pigs with immunohistochemical analysis after treatment will confirm the morphological alterations induced by discogel and its action.