Recent MRI Report

I have a six year old son with multiple problems. His recent MRI has some impressions that I don't quite understand, and I was wondering could you explain them in laymans terms for me.

Impressions: Mild dilation of the lateral ventricles, volume loss primarily within the caudate heads and secondary enlargement of the frontal horns. Plagiocephaly.

Correct me if I am wrong- Plagiocephaly is where my sons head is flattened on the side. Can this be corrected at his age? Just in the last year it has flattened quite a bit on his right back side.
Thank you very much!

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Tonya:

Was your son a former premie?  Usually head shape will round out, but occasionally if a suture closes too fast compared to the others an odd shaped head will arise.  Most premies have a particular shaped head, as you described.  You do not say that there were hyperintensities on the MRI suggesting that the insult that occured was very early in development, likely second trimester or early third trimester.  There was some brain matter that was lost that causes the ventricles to mildly enlarge to fill up the space in the head.  The caudate heads are a part of the basal ganglia that form from the cortical regions.  These areas must have been insulted.  Since there has been some brain matter loss, there might be some skull malformation, but with time I bet it will be less noticable.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Tonya]

Thank you so much for answering my questions. Just wanted to let you know that my son was a full term birth with no problems. I do have one other question is there a board like this one where you can ask a question concerning orthopedic problems in children?
Thanks again!

[nancy]

Try this web site: http://neuro-mancer.mgh.harvard.edu
Its the web forms at Mass. General hospital.  I believe they have a child neurology forum.  Hope it helps and best to you and your son

[willy wacker]

i keep getting these pains every time i jack off . please help me

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Nancy:

Thanks for your comment.

CCF Neuro MD

[Tonya]

Thanks Nancy for your help, but for some reason I could not get that orthopedic site to open up. If you know of any others please let me know. Thanks again.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for your comment.

CCF Neuro MD

[Tina Sherman]

I'm twenty-seven years old and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in August of 1999.  My docter's say I'm 66% disabled, they also said my MRI was normal.  I asked for my report and it said I had a mild bilateral faucet joint arthropathy of the L-3/L-4,L-4/L-5, and L-5/S-1 levels, with a slight cerviture or the lumbar spine.  Now correct me if I'm wrong but a diasease or the joints on both sides in the different levels isn't normal.  Could you please explain to me exactly what this may mean for me and is this a normal thing (or is my docter just not concerned about that )  If it's not normal what long term affects if any may I incure?  I also have severe problems with my neck but my docter's don't seem concerned about that either, they say it's something called a buffalo hump, due to overweight.  I'm 5 1 1/2  and 150 pounds, is that overweight and why does it hurt so much?  I also had my gall bladder out in November and it still hurts is that because of the fibromyalgia?

Thank you very much I look forward to seeing your reply.
Sincerely,
Tina Sherman e-mail at tmbhs_***@****

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Tina:

The position of your facet arthropathies is too low to cause any problems in your neck.  The mild degree of facet changes (I haven't seen the films) probably you not cause any problems.  There is no nerve compromise noted.  Facet changes could be due to excess axial load caused by your extra weight.  It might be wise to decrease the axial load to preserve your spine.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD