Anyone have enlarged fourth ventricle??

[meshell_32]

I got my mri report before my drs appt tomorrow, which I should of never lol. I have enlarged 4th ventricle of unremarkable size and positon. The dr told me on the first visit it was moderately enlarged. Also has anyone had "signal voids in the intracranial vertebrals or basilar? Does anyone know what vertebrals or basilars are?? I havent heard alot of enlarged ventricles with chiari. I am a little freaking about this. CT showed no hydocephalus though thank God!! Thanks!!

[pamk5]

Hey Girl,

The vertebrals may be referring to the right and left vertebral artery.  It is not uncommon for one of these to be smaller than the other.  In my case my rt is hypoplastic (small)  but the left is large enough to accomodate for it. If that is the case it may be loosing signal because one is smaller than the other.  Try not to worry... you will have your answers tomorrow.

Pam

[rod44]

The vertebra are the bones of the spine or your back bone, signal void in the vertebra could mean that the blood supply is not what it should be.
An enlarged 4th ventricle is congenital, you are born with it, it is most likely part of the Chiari Malformation.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/776728

[meshell_32]

I guess I got the mri wrong it meant my 4th ventricle was nothing out of the ordinary, although my dr said it was slightly enlarged and the decompression surgery would help. I just get freaked out about all this....but thanks I have calmed down!!

[meshell_32]

ok that makes sense...what would signal voids in the vertebra is that the spine?? I am dumb to all this...lol....thanks so much.  I have searched and searched could not find a thing!! I can actually rest better now...lol....I just wish I knew what the enlarged 4th ventricle was from. The CT said no hydrocephalus but if the fluid was built up in the ventricle would that be considered hydrocephalus?? I just don't get it, nothing makes sense. I am sure it will when I see the dr tomorrow!! The CT also didn't show enlarged 4th ventricle...weird!! Thanks though for some answers, this is all so scary!!!

[rod44]

It sounds like they may be talking about CSF obstruction when they say "Signal voids"

Definition of signal void
In magnetic resonance imaging, a region emitting no radiofrequency signal, either because there are no activated protons in the region (such as flowing blood) or because a different element predominates, particularly calcium.


Definition of Basilar: Located at or near the base of a structure, especially the base of the skull.

vertebrals: Vertebra

Ray

[meshell_32]

I think the signal voids have to do with the cine part of mri.