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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Widening/prominence of central canal; clonus
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Widening/prominence of central canal; clonus
by Melissa E. Meyer, Oct 03, 1999 12:00AM
Thank you very much for posting this valuable forum! I sustained a work-related injury 7 months ago (hyperextension of the neck)and continue to have severe pain in my neck and back. MRI's have shown widening of the central canal on C5 & T5; does widening of the canal also represent a cystic lesion? Have cystic lesions been known to cause pain? I am going for another MRI to see if the "widening of the canal" is enlarging. I have not been able to get a straight answer as to what a cystic lesion is. I also have sustained clonus and spascity in BLE, which an EMG is going to be done. A brain MRI has been negative for MS, yet I have been denied a myelogram to confirm this. Do you think a myelogram CT is better than an MRI to detect lesions? Have have also 3 drs who have refused to evaluate me for FMS, so I am going to Shands to be evaluated for that (out of pocket). Thanks again for this wonderful forum and have a great day! ~Melissa
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Oct 03, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Ms. Meyer:
If there is a fluid filled space in the spinal cord due to trauma it is likely a syrinx (fluid filled cyst). A MRI is a much more sensitive test than a myelogram for evaluation of the spinal cord. One would only due a myelogram if the patient cannot undergo a MRI, ie. pacemaker or other metal in the body. A syrinx can lead to pain, it would depend on how large the syrinx. A myelogram would not be a sensitive test for MS as demyelinated lesions would not be detected.
CCF Neuro MD
If there is a fluid filled space in the spinal cord due to trauma it is likely a syrinx (fluid filled cyst). A MRI is a much more sensitive test than a myelogram for evaluation of the spinal cord. One would only due a myelogram if the patient cannot undergo a MRI, ie. pacemaker or other metal in the body. A syrinx can lead to pain, it would depend on how large the syrinx. A myelogram would not be a sensitive test for MS as demyelinated lesions would not be detected.
CCF Neuro MD
