Back Pain Forum - Cervical Mri findings


Cervical Mri findings

Medical Questions-> Health Forums -> Back Pain -> Cervical Mri findings

Medical Questions

Author

Message

Laydefish

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 04 Apr 2008
Posts: 5

Cervical Mri findings Posted: 04-04-08 23:58pm


Findings: Sagittal Images: There is moderate kyphosis beginning at C6-7 and extending cephalad to C3-4. Osteophytes project from the posterior and anterior margins of C4-5, C5-6, and C6-7. Vertebral morphology and bone marrow signal is normal. All disc spaces reflect T2 signal loss indicative of desiccation and there is degenerative narrowing of C2-3, C4-5, C5-6, and C6-7. The cervical spinal cord has increased signal extending from C4 through C7 that is suspicious for either edema or gliosis. There is moderate canal narrowing extending from C4-5 caudad to C6-7. Axial Images: C2-3 has moderate narrowing of the left third foramina due to an uncovertebral osteophyte. There is a broad-based grade 1 disc protrusion which does not abut the cord. At C3-4 there is minimal left central protrusion measuring less than 3mm (grade 1). It neither abuts the cord nor produces foraminal narrowing. At C4-5 there is moderate spinal Stenosis due to a combination of disc protrusion and posterior vertebral osteophytes measuring 4 mm (grade 2). This produces some flattening and edema of the cervical spinal cord. There is moderate to marked narrowing of the right fifth foramina. At C5-6 there is moderate spinal Stenosis due to posterior vertebral osteophytes. The right sixth foramina is markedly narrowed and there is moderate narrowing of the left sixth foramina. C6-7 displays moderate spinal Stenosis due to posterior vertebral osteophytes and 3 mm (grade 1) disc protrusion. There does not appear to be significant cord compression and there is moderate narrowing of the right seventh foramina. At C7-T1 there is a minimal left central 3 mm protrusion (grade 1). The right eighth foramina is moderately narrowed. Impression: 1.Diffuse Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease with Disc Protrusions at all Cervical Levels. 2.Moderate Stenosis and Kyphosis extending from C4-5 caudad to C6-7. There is mild cord compression with Edema/Gliosis at both C4-5 and C5-6. 3.Asymmetrical Foraminal Stenosis, please see body of report for specific levels. Current symptoms: Chronic headaches and radiating pain, burning, numbness, tingling, weakness level 8-10plus starting in the neck area and radiating down both arms into hands and fingers, especially bad in the right arm. Extreme pain, tenderness and stiffness in neck, arms, shoulders and upper back. Disc Fusion @ C6-7 (12 years ago). Thanks for your time.

rollar64

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 21 Nov 2006
Posts: 128
Location: melbourne

Thanks: 1

Thanked:0

online

Posted: 04-06-08 06:48am


hello ladyefish its a very long and detailed radiology report. "moderate kyphosis beginning at C6-7 and extending cephalad to C3-4." This means you have an abnormal curvature of your neck that is concave at the front, it starts at the bottom two vertebrae in your neck, and extends to about half way up your neck. "Osteophytes project from the posterior and anterior margins of C4-5, C5-6, and C6-7." Osteophytes are small bony growths that form around the edges of joints, posterior, and anterior means front ,and back you have seven vertebrae in your neck C6-7 is the joint between the bottom two C5-6 is the next one up C4-5 the next one up and so on. "Vertebral morphology and bone marrow signal is normal. All disc spaces reflect T2 signal loss indicative of desiccation and there is degenerative narrowing of C2-3, C4-5, C5-6, and C6-7." Vertebral morphology refers to the form and structure of the vertebrae. Desiccation means a drying out or a lack of moisture in the disks. degenerative narrowing is a loss of height of the disks. "The cervical spinal cord has increased signal extending from C4 through C7 that is suspicious for either edema or gliosis. There is moderate canal narrowing extending from C4-5 caudad to C6-7." Edema is swelling, and gliosis is an increased formation of a type of cell in the spinal cord Canal narrowing means your spinal canal has narrowed, caudad just means downward. "Axial Images: C2-3 has moderate narrowing of the left third foramina due to an uncovertebral osteophyte. There is a broad-based grade 1 disc protrusion which does not abut the cord." Foramina are groves or holes that are formed between two vertabra, and which nerves coarse out of. An osteophyte is protruding into the foramina also the disk is bulging but is does not touch the spinal cord. "At C3-4 there is minimal left central protrusion measuring less than 3mm (grade 1). It neither abuts the cord nor produces foraminal narrowing" There is a bulging disk but it does not touch the cord or protrude into the foramina. sorry i have run out of time you should be able to have a basic understanding of the rest as it is just a repeat of problems that you have at other levels of your spine good luck post again to let us know how things go if you like

Laydefish

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 04 Apr 2008
Posts: 5

Thank you for the info - what's your opinion? Posted: 04-06-08 14:21pm


Thank you very much for the quick response and for taking the time to explain. I was wondering, what are your thoughts on my overall report? Decent? Bad? Horrible? Thanks again, it is truly appreciated!

rollar64

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 21 Nov 2006
Posts: 128
Location: melbourne

Thanks: 1

Thanked:0

online

Posted: 04-06-08 23:44pm


One thing that is in your favour is that at no one level is there really bad pathology, only mildly bulging disks, osteophytes, and mild to moderate stenosis of the canal, and foramina the bad thing is you have problems at every level. Your age will be a factor, if you are young you will have problems later if you are advanced in years hopefully your condition will not progress this could be a problem these conditions can be progressive, i will keep my fingers crossed that the doctors can help you.

Laydefish

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 04 Apr 2008
Posts: 5

Responding to my MRI Post Posted: 04-07-08 21:16pm


Thank you again for the reply. I'm just 42 so I guess I have a bit to worry about. I have a doctor's appointment in about two weeks, I'll let you know what he says. Thanks again

Laydefish

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 04 Apr 2008
Posts: 5

Doctors Opinion after Cervical MRI Findings Posted: 05-03-08 01:37am


After my current MRI findings, my doctor (Non-Surgical) is recommending epidural injections bilaterally C6 to hold off future surgery with probably a 2 different level fusion with instrumentation. Any comments and/or suggestions very much appreciated. Oh, he also says the Kyphosis is nothing to worry about???

rollar64

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 21 Nov 2006
Posts: 128
Location: melbourne

Thanks: 1

Thanked:0

online

Posted: 05-05-08 07:12am


hello again Laydefish i cant really say much maybe someone who has had epidural injections can comment its probably good they are trying to avoid surgery as you have problems at all levels and they cant fuse the lot. i would be skeptical of the claim that Kyphosis is nothing to worry about.

Laydefish

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 04 Apr 2008
Posts: 5

Cervical Mri and Epidural Injections Posted: 05-06-08 01:29am


Thanks for your time and insight. I tend to agree with you and some of the research I've found, but until and when I have a surgical consult, I'm going to try to not focusing on it, it's all a little scary especially since another surgery is definitely in my future. As far the injections, I would love to hear about past experiences/results of others who have had epidural injections, especially in cervical area. Thanks- Take Care

gurr8

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 20 Jul 2008
Posts: 5
Location: gulfport, ms usa

2 MRI Spine Cervical & Spine Lumbar findings what do they m Posted: 07-20-08 05:13am


Please someone tell me in layman terms what this means C4-5 disc: anterior and right posterolateral disc protrusion and osteophyte producing mild right intervertebal foraminal stenosis but no definite nerve root compression, C5-6 disc: anterior disc protrusion and osteophyte. No significant posterior disc abnormality. C6-7 disc: Mild concentric disc bulge without discrete disc herniation or neural impingement. T1-2 disc: mild broad posterior disc protrusion without apparent neural impingement. IMPRESSION:mild multilevel degenerative disc disease as noted above with RIGHT FORAMINAL STENOSIS at C4-5 without apparent neural impingement. No intrathecal abnormality. MRI LUMBAR SPINE: Conus medullaris appears normal. There is mild anterior wedging of the T11-12 disc with mild broad based posterior disc protrusion but no discrete disc herniation or neual impingement. T12-L1 disc: within normal limits L1-2 disc: mild anterior disc bulge w/o posterior disc contour abnormality. L2-3 disc: within normal limits, Mild bilateral facet arthropathy. L3-4 disc: no disc contour abnormality. Mild bilateral facet arthropathy. L4-5 disc: Far lateral disc protrusion on right w/o nerve root compression. L5-S1 disc: left posterolateral disc protrusion.W/O impingement nerve root. Mild bilateral facet arthropathy. IMPRESSION: L4-5 right far lateral & L5-S1 left disc protrusions w/o nerve root impingement. Mild facet arthropathy throughout the lower Lumbar Spine. No mass seen. Thank You Thank You

RichT

Active User, Really EHEALTHy

Joined: 22 Jul 2007
Posts: 818

Thanks: 15

Thanked:0

Posted: 07-21-08 15:38pm


Hello Laydefish, I have received three epidural injections containing the corticosteroid Kenalog since April 27, 2007. For me, they have helped a great deal so that I can at least function fairly well. Okay, permit me to go on. "doctor (Non-Surgical)" Laydefish, is he/she your GP/PCP doc? I would agree that it is a good idea to at least try epidural injections containing a corticosteroid to reduce the inflammation that you may have. HOWEVER, make absolutely sure that the doctor giving you the injections is an expert at doing so. AND the doctor MUST use a fluoroscope to help him/her guide the needle to EXACTLY the location it needs to go. My experience. Back in Feb '07 I had an epidural injection by a PA. Worked for about 2 weeks. Then in Mar '07 I had another injection by a PA. Hardly worked at all. I then saw a pain management doctor who is with the same institute. He wanted to give me another injection. I said "NO WAY. They really don't seem to work. Time for surgery!!" He convinced me to try again and said "ONLY I will give you the injections. NO other doctor or PA in this institute." WOW!!!!! Laydefish, what a difference. This doc is SUPERB. He REALLY studied the MRI images and he did use the fluoroscope. He gets that corticosteroid to EXACTLY the spot it needs to go. AND he does so with little pain to me. I sure couldn't say that about the first PA!! So has been my experiences. I hope this helps a bit. Oh, and don't let your GP give you those injections. NO WAY!! Take care. RichT

rollar64

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 21 Nov 2006
Posts: 128
Location: melbourne

Thanks: 1

Thanked:0

online

Posted: 07-23-08 05:07am


"C4-5 disc: anterior and right posterolateral disc protrusion and osteophyte producing mild right intervertebal foraminal stenosis but no definite nerve root compression," C4-5 are the fourth, and fifth vertebra down from the top of your neck anterior is the front, the disk is protruding to the front and right, ostephytes are small bony growths, the vertebral foramina are small grooves or holes in the side towards the rear of the vertebra that the nerve roots coarse out of, stenosis means narrowing, so they have narrowed but the nerves are not being compressed. "C5-6 disc: anterior disc protrusion and osteophyte. No significant posterior disc abnormality." This is the next joint down its the same sort of thing refer to the C4-5 explanation "C6-7 disc: Mild concentric disc bulge without discrete disc herniation or neural impingement" Mild bulging all around the disk, no rupture of the disk, no nerve compression "T1-2 disc: mild broad posterior disc protrusion without apparent neural impingement. IMPRESSION:mild multilevel degenerative disc disease as noted above with RIGHT FORAMINAL STENOSIS at C4-5 without apparent neural impingement. No intrathecal abnormality" T1-2 is at the base of your neck, posterior is at the back, disc protrusion is not compressing the nerves. Multilevel DDD, DDD can be many things like disc narrowing, and a lack of moisture in the discs, small bony growths, and arthritis. intrathecal means inside the tough membrane that surrounds the spinal cord there is no abnormality here. "MRI LUMBAR SPINE: Conus medullaris appears normal. There is mild anterior wedging of the T11-12 disc with mild broad based posterior disc protrusion but no discrete disc herniation or neual impingement." Conus medullaris is the end of the spinal cord where it branches out into a bundle of individual nerves. Anterior wedging is when the front of the vertebral body has narrowed, T11-12 is the seventh joint from the bottom of your spine. For the rest refer above its just a repeat of problems at other levels. "T12-L1 disc: within normal limits" Next joint down, its normal. "L1-2 disc: mild anterior disc bulge w/o posterior disc contour abnormality" Next joint down, front of disc is bulging, back of disc is ok. "L2-3 disc: within normal limits, Mild bilateral facet arthropathy." Disc is ok, but the small joints at the back of the vertebra that guide motion of the vertebra have arthritis. "L3-4 disc: no disc contour abnormality. Mild bilateral facet arthropathy" Same as previous level "L4-5 disc: Far lateral disc protrusion on right w/o nerve root compression" lateral means to the side, refer to previous explanation for the rest. "L5-S1 disc: left posterolateral disc protrusion.W/O impingement nerve root. Mild bilateral facet arthropathy." Refer above. "No mass seen." Thats good This is not an MRI reading its just an explanation of some common medical terms. All the best

gurr8

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 20 Jul 2008
Posts: 5
Location: gulfport, ms usa

thank You Posted: 07-24-08 04:26am


I was hoping you would see my post and answer. Is this nothing to worry about and what should be the next step. I have had 5 injections since June 2008 and (2) last Oct & Nov 2007 I see a neurosurgeon on Tuesday. I really don't like the idea of drugs to mask the pain nor do I like idea of surgery (1974) not back related-last one but if there is a chance of relief and maybe joining life again I will. Sounds like to me worn-out back and old age.I blame everything on old age. I know you can't make dignois but your thoughts. I also Realize doctor's knownledge is best but alot time talking to a tree, chair or another person trigger thoughts and answers to life's problems. Again I thank You so so much.