Understanding MRI results

[moparman70440]

Hello, me again. Here is what it says. the thoracic spine is normally aligned. a small roughly 1 cm rounded focus of increased T1 and T2 signal is present in the right side of the T7 vertebral body posteriorly. the lesion shows enhancement following administration of contrast, and is bright on stir sequence. a smaller lesion in the T9 vertebral body shows similar signal characteristics. The thoracic cord is normal in size and signal characteristics, There is no abnormal intramedullary enhancement. The intervertebral disc spaces are preserved. the paraspinal soft tissues are unremarkable. Incidentally noted are small posterior disc spur complexes at the level of C4-C5 and C5-C6 exerting mass-effect on the anterior thecal sac. Any idea what if anything this means. Also i would like to know if it is customary to put under History the words Multiple sclerosis if they are telling me i probably don't have it.  Is that even ethical. Wouldn't that throw off the intrepreter of the MRI if he thinks he's not looking for signs of MS. I'm confused by that. Thank you very much

[moparman70440]

Thanks again.  I myself considered Ms after 3 months of taking all the other stuff like muscle relaxers, pain meds, and laxatives had no effect whatsoever and then neurontin helped quite a bit. It's not a relapsing/remitting situation though. My father was diagnosed with MS at the age of 23. MS is something I have feared for many years. after some research I learned about primary progressive type. i have been in this condition every day for over 2 years including the so-called MS band. Every time I do research on my sysptons it eventually leads me to MS. i learned yesterday that I am getting into the Barnes neuro clinic in St. Louis.       NEXT YEAR      Thanks again for all your help. P.S.    I read somewhere that PPMS is a very gradual change as opposed to Relapsing and that MRI's and lumbar punctures are designed to pick up on body chemestry changes. Any thoughts on that.   Thanks again and I fired my neuro too.          

[Heather3418]

As you already know, this MRI was done of your spine.  A 1cm area of "focus" is small but not totally insignificant on T7.  The report also states a smaller lesiion at T9 with gadolinium contrast dye, with a "bright signal."  But is it suggestive of absolute MS?  No necessarily. BUT, can be, if the radiologist thinks it is associated with demylenating disease.

The "spurring" that was mentioned in the report, as stated, is "exerting mass-effect on the anterior thecal sac."  This is significant to your doctor.  C-4 and C-5 are the lower part of your neck and down to C-6 would on a woman, almost  at what "we" call the bra line.  Just a bit higher in this instance.  T1 and below, stopping at S-1; is the thoracic spine.  Depending on your age, spurring is not an unusual finding.  

At my age of 54, I have "spurring" on almost every single vertebrae.  This is arthritis, in my case.  This could result from years and years of heavy physical activity and lots of sports, including being a ballerina for 9 years.  

Have you had an MRI of the brain?  Lesions appearing in the brain AND the spinal cord, with symptoms that have relapsed and remitted over time, would be suggestive of MS.   Why did your doctor order the MRI of the spine?  Was he looking for demylenating disease in particular?  Under the word "History" (on your report) where it has the words "Multiple Sclerosis," this is usually from the doctor's end, stating the he wants the radiologist to look for signs, since he suspects your symptoms may be casued by MS.  Whether your doctor has even mentioned that he "might suspect MS;'" ...trust me on this...the patient always seems to be the last one to know.  As was in my case.  I had no idea that my Neuro suspected MS, when he sent me for my first set of MRI's.  Don't you just hate it when the doctor's don't tell you what is REALLY in their heads?  Hence, this is why I finally "fired" this Neurologist...he was too vague.  When he DID give me the diagnosis of MS, he never gave me the first piece of literature on it, never sat down and told me what MS was and what I could expect, he just said he wanted to see me in 4 weeks.  Talk about an ***, here.

If you have already posted earlier about the particular's for your MRI study being done...forgive me.  I did not see it.

Of course, I hope and pray that you don't have MS, but if your brain MRI looks like you spinal MRI, it would be suggestive of something definitely going on in your Central Nervous System.

Keep us posted.  Best Wishes, Heather