What does this mean

Diagnostic report

Technique: MRI of brain was performed at3T and included the following sequences:

Sagittal T1 weighted MPRAGE,sagittal T2 SPACE, axial flair SPACE, axial proton density and T2 weighted,

axial diffusion tensor imaging, and gadolinium enhanced sagittal T1 weighted MPRAGE and axial T1 images.

Multiplanar reformatted images were created from multiple sequences as well.

Imaging of the spine consisted  of sagittal    T1 and T2 weighted images, axial T2 weighted images,  and gadolinium enhanced sagittal and axial T1 weighted images.

The patient received approximately  10 ml of multihance intravenously.

Findings:

There are numerous foci of increased signal intensity   within the deep and periventricular white matter,

the subcortical white matter, and corpus callosum, Following contrast administration, none domonstrate enhancement.

There are intrinsic cord lesions at T3. T5/6 probably at T7/8. and possibly at C5/6. There ismild right sided myelomalacia T7/8. following contrast administration, thereis no pathologic enhancement.

The above findings are nonspecific but suggestive of demyelinating disease.

There are mild degenerative changes at C5/6 worse than C6/7, noting loss of height of the intravertabral discs at these levels and degenerative edamatous endplate changes and enhancement about C5/6.

At C4/5 there is mild right unconvertebral joint arthrosis with mild right neural foraminal narrowing.

At C5/6there is a small to moderate posterior disc/osteophyte ridge with affacement of the ventral thecal sac.flattening of the ventral contourof the cord. and mild versus moderate left neural foraminal narrowing.

At C6/7 there is a small posterior disc /osteophyte ridge containing a small annularfissure. There is no central canal or neural foraminal stenosis.

There is a schmorl`s node at T11/12. There is a moderate focal left paracentral posterior disc/osteophyte ridge and T6/7 which effaces the ventral thecal sac and mildly/moderately indents the ventral contour of the spinal cord at this level. There is additionally asmallposterior right paracentral disc/osteophyte ridge at T5/6.

Impression;

Degenerative changes within the cervical and thoracic spine as detailed above, noting a moderate posterior disc/osteophyte ridge with flattening of the ventral contour of the cord at C5/6 and a moderate focal left paracentral posterior disc/osteophyte ridge which mildly/moderately indents the ventral contour of the cord at T6/7.

This does not sound as if i should be walking.      How bad is this on a scale of 1 to 10 Thanks Guys

[wiggles94]

I'm not a doc, so can't "read" into this, but I know when I got the resuts of my spinal MRI I read the report, and felt as you do. ALL THOSE BIG WORDS -.YIKES.......

Sounds like they have found lesions, and are suggesting demyelinating disease, which can be MS or other disease.


COBOB is great at understanding these reports and perhaps he will chime in on this.
.I hope you have a follow up meeting with your doc soon and then he/she can expain better what is happening.

ARe you able to walk now?  How are you feeling physically?
Good luck to you!

[COBOB]

Depends on how you feel, your symptoms, etc..as far as to whether you should be walking.  There are a few things going on in the report as I see it.  I'm not a doctor so you need to discuss this with your doctor.

1)  You have numerous lesions that are typical of MS (demyelinationg and in the periventricular white matter, subcortical white matter and corpus callosum.)  None of the lesions enhanced, so they are older than 6-8 weeks or so.

2) You have some places in your spine (neck and thoracic) that have spinal stenosis, arthritic changes and some damaged discs.  Some of the damaged disc are pinching the thecal sac (covering around the spinal cord) and pinching it hard enough that the Radiologist could not see any space between the cord and the sac.  

Whoever read the study was more interested in the spinal anatomy than the brain anatomy.

[gypcwmn]

Thanks wiggles94 and COBOB I understood the demyelinating disease part i do have a dx of ms. I am seeing a neurosurgeon on thursday about possible spinal stenosis.

I was anxious and could no go another minute without some idea about what is going on with my spine.

I guess it sounds worse than it is. Thanks for responding guys;-)

[jensequitur]

It sounds like you do have some cord lesions - from this line here:

"There are intrinsic cord lesions at T3. T5/6 probably at T7/8. and possibly at C5/6. There ismild right sided myelomalacia T7/8. following contrast administration, thereis no pathologic enhancement. "

Cord lesions are problematic.  I've had lesions on my spine for many years, but it wasn't until recently that it started to be a problem.  My leg weakness, spasms and spasticity have really escalated.