To Quix - Craniocervical Junction Abnormalities

[cassrox]

Hi Quix,

Since you are a pediatrician, I thought you may have run across this before - Craniocervical Junction Abnormalities, specifically an issue with the clival area pinching into the spinal fluid and almost completely cutting off the flow.

It seems that I have this problem, and have had it for awhile. It looks kinda like the tip of a triangle sticking into it, almost into the spinal cord itself. Both the MS specialist and one of her colleagues pointed it out on the spinal MRI I had done. She wasn't able to tell what it was because of the poor quality of the image and the fact that no contrast was used, so she wants to take a better look at it on the new MRI she ordered, as well looking for MS lesions.

She was a bit surprised to see it, saying it usually pops up in Downs Syndrome or RA patients, or perhaps Pagets Disease. Beyond that she didn't make much comment about what it could be. From what I've been able to find, it could be anything froma malformation I was born with that's rearing its ugl head now to a tumor of some sort.

I have to admit I'm a bit nervous about it. The possibility of being diagnosed with MS has been a part of my life for some time now, but I wasn't expecting something like this. You can actually see it on both the brain and c-spine MRI I had done 1 1/2 years ago, but evil nero #1 and the radiologist didn't see it. Of course I don't think the neuro even looked at the films himself.  

I was already angry and hurt over him dismissing me the way he did, and now it seems he missed something that could potentially be a major problem.

I've got several more tests to go through before MS is ruled in or out by the specialist, and now this monkey wrench is in the picture too. Any thoughts?

You opinions is always greatly appreciated.

Cass

[cassrox]

Thanks for the words of encouragement!

I'm definitely glad I finally found a good neuro.

Happy Halloweeen!

Cass

[SickMomma_PDX]

Just wanted to give this a bump.

How scary that it was apparent 1.5 years ago and no one noticed. I hope it's simply an oddity and not something like a tumor. (I have what appears to simply be an oddity in that they discovered I have a tethered spinal cord when I had my spinal MRI done after a car accident. It's apparently shocking to have as an adult since it should have affected my ability to potty train as a toddler.)

Anyway, I'm glad you're in the hands of a better neuro now, and hope you get some reassuring news.