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Oh Selma?? Question for you!! And others of course!!
Can you explain what any of this means?? I'm kind of lost... First off my MRI a month before this one was just of brain and radiologist noted the chiari 1 malformation at 16mm. This last MRI was for my back/neck to check for syrinx... This is what radiologist report reads.....
EXAMINATION: MRI of the cervical spine without contrast
FINDINGS: the vertebral body heights and alignment of the vertebrae are maintained. There is straightening of the normal cervical curvature. Intrinsic signal of the spinal cord is normal. The visualized portions of the posterior fossa are remarkable for extension if the cerebellar tonsils through the foraman magnum of 18mm.
At the C2-3 level the spinal canal and neural foramina are well maintained.
At the C3-4 level the spinal canal and neural foramina are well maintained.
At the C4-5 level there is a shallow central disc bulge without significant mass effect.
At the C5-6 level there is a moderate sized disc-osteophyte complex causing moderate central stenosis to an AP diameter of 7mm widening the cord and completely effacing the anterior thecal space.
At the C6-7 level there is a shallow disc bulge without significant mass effect.
The C7-T1 level is normal.
IMPRESSION:
1. Moderate central canal stenosis from a large disc-osteophyte complex at the C5-6 level slightly flattening the cord at this level.
2. Chiari 1 malformation of 18mm
Ok so it appears to me my tonsils went from 16mm-18mm OR could it just be a difference in how they measured from last time?? And I'm completely confused about the stenosis, osteophyte complex and all that wording!! What does it all mean to you?
EXAMINATION: MRI of the cervical spine without contrast
FINDINGS: the vertebral body heights and alignment of the vertebrae are maintained. There is straightening of the normal cervical curvature. Intrinsic signal of the spinal cord is normal. The visualized portions of the posterior fossa are remarkable for extension if the cerebellar tonsils through the foraman magnum of 18mm.
At the C2-3 level the spinal canal and neural foramina are well maintained.
At the C3-4 level the spinal canal and neural foramina are well maintained.
At the C4-5 level there is a shallow central disc bulge without significant mass effect.
At the C5-6 level there is a moderate sized disc-osteophyte complex causing moderate central stenosis to an AP diameter of 7mm widening the cord and completely effacing the anterior thecal space.
At the C6-7 level there is a shallow disc bulge without significant mass effect.
The C7-T1 level is normal.
IMPRESSION:
1. Moderate central canal stenosis from a large disc-osteophyte complex at the C5-6 level slightly flattening the cord at this level.
2. Chiari 1 malformation of 18mm
Ok so it appears to me my tonsils went from 16mm-18mm OR could it just be a difference in how they measured from last time?? And I'm completely confused about the stenosis, osteophyte complex and all that wording!! What does it all mean to you?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi...Lizzy is right....take a deep breath....now from what I can see...u deff have chiari....the size is not as important as if it is causing a blockage and overcrowding...plus symptoms...that is far more important.
However, Lizzy is right...could be the difference as the starting line that 2 diff people measure a herniation from, No unfortunately not all radiologist and NS';s use the same point of reference....plus, if they were performed on diff machines...the strength of the magnification , the slices, and angles done may have been different....I always use my upside down pear to explain...Imagine ur herniation like an upside down pear......if u cut it into 3rds...if u look to the left or right side...u may get the same measurement...mayb a little off...but close, BUT if u look at the center slice, it may appear to have grown if u looked at the other sides first or that it shrank if u did the opposite....
Size of the herniation is more of an indication something is not right, the shape of the tonsils and width of the tonsil is more of a factor as that is what plugs up the CSF flow...really long thin tonsils do not....short stubby ones will be more of an issue than really long skinny ones.....
Plus u have disc osteophyte complex- It's where the disc [between two adjacent vertebra] and the vertebra edges begin to form bony "spikes" that stick out. It's caused by a long history of regular "wear and tear"... Basically, it's called osteoarthritis [regular arthritis]... a bulging causing some pressure on ur spinal cord....that may need to be addressed along with ur chiari or b4....depending on if they find u have more CSF obstruction with a CINE MRI.
And u have some loss of the natural curvature of ur cervical spine...Loss of cervical lordosis as it is sometimes called...sometimes soldiers neck..from the way they stand at attention get this too....
I hope I got it all...lol....
"selma"
However, Lizzy is right...could be the difference as the starting line that 2 diff people measure a herniation from, No unfortunately not all radiologist and NS';s use the same point of reference....plus, if they were performed on diff machines...the strength of the magnification , the slices, and angles done may have been different....I always use my upside down pear to explain...Imagine ur herniation like an upside down pear......if u cut it into 3rds...if u look to the left or right side...u may get the same measurement...mayb a little off...but close, BUT if u look at the center slice, it may appear to have grown if u looked at the other sides first or that it shrank if u did the opposite....
Size of the herniation is more of an indication something is not right, the shape of the tonsils and width of the tonsil is more of a factor as that is what plugs up the CSF flow...really long thin tonsils do not....short stubby ones will be more of an issue than really long skinny ones.....
Plus u have disc osteophyte complex- It's where the disc [between two adjacent vertebra] and the vertebra edges begin to form bony "spikes" that stick out. It's caused by a long history of regular "wear and tear"... Basically, it's called osteoarthritis [regular arthritis]... a bulging causing some pressure on ur spinal cord....that may need to be addressed along with ur chiari or b4....depending on if they find u have more CSF obstruction with a CINE MRI.
And u have some loss of the natural curvature of ur cervical spine...Loss of cervical lordosis as it is sometimes called...sometimes soldiers neck..from the way they stand at attention get this too....
I hope I got it all...lol....
"selma"
Hello!
The good news is for the most part is your spinal canal and the neural foramen (the opening b/w vertabrae where the nerve roots exit) are both well maintained, which means there is little CSF blockage. However, one question I would ask your NS is that it mentions that you don't have a natural curve of your cervical spine. It also sounds like, for the size of your herniation that they are surprised that there isn't more blockage, that could due to the shape. Some people have only 4mm herniation but it is round and thick and can cause a lot more damage than someone with a huge herniation. The difference in size could definitely just be a different view of different measuring techniques by the radiologist, it seems that there is a variant on where exactly they measure from, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.
As for the Osetophyte...this is a bony bone spur (or growth) that is usually the result of of Osteoarthritis or degenerative disc disease. This can be a fairly common occurrence (I have one too) with Chiari but in your case it does seem to be effecting you. In fact, it seems like it is doing that most damage in regard to blocking the CSF flow. So definitely another thing you should be bringing up to the NS. It also says that you have other bulging discs in the cervical spine, which are not causing issues now but that could be a possibility in the future.
Please remember this is just an opinion from what I read...you really need to seek these answers from your DR. However, like Elizabeth said, take a deep breath b/c the results are pretty much what can be expected with Chiari. I too am interested if they will deal with the neck issue or the Chiari first...or maybe at the same time?
Let us know what you find out!
Carolyn
The good news is for the most part is your spinal canal and the neural foramen (the opening b/w vertabrae where the nerve roots exit) are both well maintained, which means there is little CSF blockage. However, one question I would ask your NS is that it mentions that you don't have a natural curve of your cervical spine. It also sounds like, for the size of your herniation that they are surprised that there isn't more blockage, that could due to the shape. Some people have only 4mm herniation but it is round and thick and can cause a lot more damage than someone with a huge herniation. The difference in size could definitely just be a different view of different measuring techniques by the radiologist, it seems that there is a variant on where exactly they measure from, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.
As for the Osetophyte...this is a bony bone spur (or growth) that is usually the result of of Osteoarthritis or degenerative disc disease. This can be a fairly common occurrence (I have one too) with Chiari but in your case it does seem to be effecting you. In fact, it seems like it is doing that most damage in regard to blocking the CSF flow. So definitely another thing you should be bringing up to the NS. It also says that you have other bulging discs in the cervical spine, which are not causing issues now but that could be a possibility in the future.
Please remember this is just an opinion from what I read...you really need to seek these answers from your DR. However, like Elizabeth said, take a deep breath b/c the results are pretty much what can be expected with Chiari. I too am interested if they will deal with the neck issue or the Chiari first...or maybe at the same time?
Let us know what you find out!
Carolyn
calm down and take a deep breath, my friend! you will be ok!!! lol the difference could be because of the way it was measured, or because of a different person reading it, or a different machine/setting was used. you have some problems at c5-6 that are, no doubt causing you a lot of pain. i will be curious to see if your dr. wants to fix your neck or your chiari first! the good news is, they did not mention a syrinx!! but, did they do an mri of your complete spine or just your cspine?
don't stress out over what this report says. you def. have a chiari malformation. you have other issues with your cspine. but you can only tackle one problem at a time. the very best thing you can do for yourself right now is to stop and take a moment to breath!!!! if you allow yourself to get all stressed out, you will only make your symptoms worse and we both know that's no fun! are you currently being seen by a specialist?
elizabeth
don't stress out over what this report says. you def. have a chiari malformation. you have other issues with your cspine. but you can only tackle one problem at a time. the very best thing you can do for yourself right now is to stop and take a moment to breath!!!! if you allow yourself to get all stressed out, you will only make your symptoms worse and we both know that's no fun! are you currently being seen by a specialist?
elizabeth
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