HELP!!! Can someone translate this MRI report into "english" for me?
Hi! Here's the report I got on the MRI for my neck (cervical spine). I'd like to have it translated into terms I can understand. I understand a couple terms, but not all. Also, do you think a surgery will make me feel better? And what are the risks on going into surgery?
COMPARISON: None.
HISTORY: Cervical spondylosis with neck pain radiating into the
left shoulder for approximately two weeks.
TECHNIQUE:
1. Sagittal T1
2. Sagittal T2 fast spin echo
3. Axial GRE
4. Axial T2 fast spin echo
FINDINGS: Mild reversal of the normal cervical lordosis is
present. The bone marrow signal appears normal. The cervical cord
is normal in signal characteristics on both the T1 and
T2-weighted sequences. No intrinsic abnormalities are seen.
C2-3: No significant central canal stenosis or neural foraminal
narrowing is present.
C3-4: A broad posterior disc or osteophyte is present, bulging
into the spinal canal effacing the CSF both anterior and
posterior to the cord with mild deformation of cord contour along
the anterior aspect on the right. This is consistent with severe
spinal stenosis. In addition moderate left and mild right neural
foraminal narrowing is present.
C4-5: A broad posterior disc or osteophyte is present bulging
posterolaterally to the left greater than right. The CSF is
effaced both anterior and posterior to the cord and the cord
contour appears mildly deformed. This is consistent with severe
spinal stenosis. Moderate left and mild right neural foraminal
narrowing is present.
C4-5: A broad posterior disc or osteophyte is present, effacing
the CSF completely both anterior and posterior to the cord,
causing mild deformity of the cord contour. This is consistent
with severe spinal stenosis. In addition moderate to severe left
and mild right neural foraminal narrowing is present.
C6-7: A broad posterior disc or osteophyte is present, effacing
the CSF both anterior and posterior to the cord, with mild
deformation in cord contour. This is consistent with severe
spinal stenosis. Severe left and mild right neural foraminal
narrowing is present.
C7-T1: No significant central canal stenosis or neural foraminal
narrowing is present.
IMPRESSION: Degenerative changes at multiple levels, resulting in
severe spinal stenosis at C3-4, C4-5, C5-6, and C6-7.
Bilateral neural foraminal narrowing is also present at multiple
levels.
Re: HELP!!! Can someone translate this MRI report into "english" for me?
I assume that the second "C4-5" should be "C5-6"? Also, can you be a little more specific about your symptoms, or is it just pain in left shoulder and nothing else?
Flesh this put a little, and I'll do my best with it, hopefully today...
Re: HELP!!! Can someone translate this MRI report into "english" for me?
Looks like my MRI absent CSF findings. You have a pretty common condition, and from what your chief complaint (like WedDozer wrote) I wouldn't be considering surgery from just two weeks of pain!!! Sometimes MRI's can present a lot of things going on & the patient is having virtually no problems and vise versa.
What does your Dr. think???
Re: HELP!!! Can someone translate this MRI report into "english" for me?
Since you have severe stenosis from disc protrtusion and bone spurs pressing on the nerves and spinal canal, surgery would probably help. However, I agree with the fact that symptoms are most important, particularly level of pain and degree of disability it is causing. The reversal of the normal lordotic curvature in neck indicates muscle spasm, and you may get some benefit from a muscle relaxant (RX). I would ask your Dr for one and an antiinflammatory (OTC) like Ibuprofen or Naproxen will help the nerve irritation in the meantime while you are considering what to do. The most important thing is to find a good neurosurgeon if you do end up having surgery.
