Re: pericentral versus paracentral

[Guest guest]

I believe peri- refers more to surrounding the whole part while para- is

more to one side or the other. So I would say " ...right paracentral... "

----Original Message Follows----

To: nmtc

Subject: pericentral versus paracentral

Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2002 20:48:23 -0000

Patient is being seen for low back pain.

Patient had his CT scan done which shows a posterior central and

right **paracentral or pericentral** disk protrusion at L5-S1 that

attenuates the anterior thecal sac and contacts the S1 nerve root,

right greater than left.

Am I correct that pericentral and paracentral are essentially the

same? One meaning located near the center and one meaning located

around the center.

Thanks...Tracey

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[Guest I agree with Guest from 17 Feb 2002 - check Google "right paracentral disc"]

Yes, I think Guest from 17 Feb 2002 is quite correct.  Try "right paracentral disc" and ""right pericentral disc" (both with the quotes) on Google and you will see the first gets almost all the hits.  That phrase is usually followed by "protrusion" or "herniation" - both meaning one (or more) of the patient's discs between the spinal bones is bulging out on it's right side. Also see http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/disc_protrusion/articles/right_paracentral/   Think parallel ("side to side") v. perineum or periscope ("around").