syrinx

[Petoskey]

Good morning. I had an MRI on 4-22-13 to evaluate my "chronic" neck pain.

MRI Impressions:
1.) Multilevel intervertebral disk space degenerative disease resulting in mild central and neural forminal narrowing . There is what appears to be a short segment syrinx posterior to C5-C6 vertebral bodies. There is no pathologic enhancement.
2.) Possible hemosiderin deposition or calcification, versus artifact, in the right ventral aspect of the spinal cord to C6 vertebral body.

I had never heard of a syrinx until my doctor talked about it. BUT. He just mentioned it in passing. It was not until I began to research the condition did I realize how serious it is.

Would someone please help me understand what " a short segment syrinx posterior to C5-C6 vertebral bodies" is and what I am dealing with? Thank you.

[selmaS]

  U r welcome...please keep us posted on what u find out...and how u r doing

   : )

[Petoskey]

selma:

Thank you for your response! I saw my primary care physician yesterday. He is referring me to a neurosurgeon. I also asked him if he had any experience  with a syrinx.  He said his understanding of the condition was theoretical. Because my neck is a mess I imagine my syrinx is related to my numerous bulging discs-that is my hope anyway. Thanks again for the info!

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

A syrinx, and or the condition of having a syrinx is known as Syringomyelia...this is a cyst or sac like cavity that forms within the spinal cord and fills with cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)...the cyst forms as there is a restriction of CSF flow...it could be from a bulging disk, or from an injury to that general area....

The cyst can continue to fill with fluid causing it to grow and press on the cervical spine...this affects which ever nerves are in that area, so depending on that will depend on how u r affected....

If u have a syrinx, with no known cause it is harder to treat as many times the syrinx is too small to use a shunt or stent...for those that have Chiari, it is the cerebral tonsils that create the obstruction and having the decompression surgery may help restore CSF flow to allow the syrinx to shrink.

So u need to ask more questions and possibly have more testing to figure out the origin of ur syrinx. that way u will know the best way to proceed.