what does this MRI report means?

This is my mom's MRI results and I wanted to know what is the meaning of this. She has a previous hx of fall 2 years ago. She's been experiencing lumbosacral pain 3 months until now but its on and off. Here it is.

Impression: FOCI OF OVOID BRIGHT SIGNAL AT THE VERTEBRAL BODIES OF T1, T7, L3 AND L4, AS DESCRIBED. CONSIDER BENIGN INTRAOSSEOUS HHEMANGIOMAS. BONE SCAN CORRELATION MAY BE HELPFUL FOR FURTHER EVALUATION, IF CLINICALLY WARRANTED.

MILD FORAMINAL-EXTREFORAMINAL DISK BULGES AT L3/4 WITH ANNULAR TEAR ON THE RIGHT, AND SLIGHT BILATERAL NEURAL FORAMINAL NARROWING.

MILD DIFFUSE DISC BULGES, L4/L5 CAUSING MILD THECAL SAC INDENTATION AND MODERATE BILATERAL NEURAL FORAMINAL NARROWING WITH SUGGESTIVE ANNULAR TEAR.

ASSOCIATED FACET JOINT OSTEOARTHRITIS, L3 DOWN TO S1, AND LIGAMENTUM FLAVIUM HYPERTROPHY AT L4/5, CONTRIBUTING TO SPINAL CANAL AND FORAMINAL NARROWING.

MILD DIFFUSE DISK BULGE, L5/S1, INDENTING THE THECAL SAC AND SLIGHLTY NARROWING BILATERAL NEURAL FORAMINA.

DISK DESICCATION, L4/5, WITH BEGINNING DISK DESSICATION (desiccation) AT THE REST OF THE LUMBAR LEVELS.

FINDINGS: Round to oval T2W and T1W heterogenous bright signal changes with varying degrees of suppression on T2W/STIR images are seen in T1, T7, L3 and L4 vertebral bodies exhibiting bony trabeculae.

There is mild diffuse disc bulge at L4/L5 and L5/S1 with mild thecal sac indentation. There is also note of left-sided annular tears at these levels. The L4/5 neural foramina are mildly narrowed, while the L5/S1 foramina are moderately narrowed.

Mild foraminal and extra foraminal disk bulges are noted at L3/4 level with right foraminal annular tear. The rest of the disks do not extend beyond posterior margin of the vertebral bodies.

There is loss of the normal T2W bright signal of L4/L5 invertebral disk and beginning disk desiccation changes with intranuclear cleft formation at the rest of the levels.

There is buckling of the ligamentum flavum at the L4/5 level, with facet joint hypertrophy and fluid signals from the L3 down to S1 levels.

The vertebral bodies are normal in their number, shape and interrelationships. the articulating vertebral end plates presents smooth margins. the rest of the invertebral disk spaces are of normal height. the lumbar spine shows smooth lordotic curve with normal angle of the promontory.

The spinal cord displays a normal course, configuration, width, and internal structure. the conus modullaris terminates normallyat the L1 level and divides into its filaments. The dural tubes appears normal in its lumbar and sacral portion. The imaged soft tissues show no abnormalities.

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Please explain it to me because i am really worried.

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

There is signal abnormality at vertebral levels T1, T7, L3 & L4 (T-Thoracic/ behind chest; L-Lumbar/ Lower back); which may be suggestive of an intraosseous (inside the vertebral body) haemangioma (benign tumour). There is a mild vertebral disc herniation at L3-L4 and L4-L5 which are slightly encroaching into the space that allows the nerves to pass (neural foramina) and L4-L5 & L5-S1 discs indent the outer covering of the spine (theca). Also there are degenerative and associated inflammatory changes from L3-S1 level causing narrowing of the space that transmits the spinal cord and the spinal nerves.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!

[eufracia]

Hello!

Thanks for your immediate response .
Is my mom's condition health/life threatening??
What will be the possible treatment for her??

thanks!

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi again!

The report is neither normal nor life threatening. Management would largely depend on the severity of her symptoms. Since there is just narrowing of the neural foramina and still no actual pressure on the roots a conservative management with anti-inflammatory medications, physiotherapy and/ or pain killers may be advised; though she is likely to require interventional or surgical measures in the near future. Indentation of the theca may warrant an early interventional or surgical measure, depending on the severity. As for the osseous haemangiomas she may be observed over time for increase in size or degeneration, or this can be managed actively as well. It would be best to discuss the situation and the management plan in detail with her orthopedician/ neurologist/ neurosurgeon.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!