What does my MRI say about my LIPOMA?

[KBodine]

When I was very young I had a lump start growing on my back. I never though twice about it till about two moths ago. I've been have severe back pain and headaches for about a year and a half and went to a neurologist for the headaches who put me on antidepressants and a chiropractor for my back. The pain has gone to about a 6 from a 8. I finally decided to have the lump looked at and my mom told me it was called a lipoma. I went to a dermatologist who sent me for an MRI. I can't get anyone to give me a straight answer of what it says:

" There is a linear area of fatty signal along the dorsal aspect of the canal thickening at the superior aspect of L1 and extending to the mid L2 level consistent with a lipoma of the filum terminale. This measures 0.4cm in max transverse dimension and 3.7 cm in length. The superior aspect extends along the dorsal aspect of the distal cord. The distal cord is in normal signal. L1-L2. There is an incomplete fusion of the posterior elements of the L4 vertebral body consistent with spinal dysraphism. There is an adjacent area of linear low T1 signal within the subcutaneous fat. Findings may be related to a small residual dermal sinus tract. There is no canal stenosis. The conus medullaris is in normal position."

What is going on. Is it just below the skin subq level or is it in the actual filum terminale or spinal cord. I can't even figure out what kind of doctor to go see. Anyone?

[paula9002]

Hi. I saw that you had requested a list of neurosurgeons in south fl.  Are you on the east or west coast? we were stationed around Ft. lauderdale and I can give you the name of a great family practice doctor who referred me to the best doctors when I needed extra help and surgery when stationed there.
Good for you taking being your own advocate here. I hope it is not serious, easily repaired and that you do well.  Take care and God Bless. Please let us know if you are okay from time to time. p

[paula9002]

I did a web search for the filum terminale and the third refers to Lipoma filum terminale on MRI.  It goes right down most of what you have listed in your question.  I think that part would probably ease your mind.  I also searched the spinal dysraphism and it gives some pretty good descriptions of that also.  Many of the articles were written by neurosurgeons so maybe that is where the doctor who ordered the MRI could refer you.  I used AOL and did web search.  If you do not have AOL, you can simply put www.aol.com and it should direct you there.  You do not even have to sign in to use this function unless there is some kind of a block on your computer.  If for some reason you have a problem getting these articles, let me know and I will look up again and get you the web sites.  Take care.

[KBodine]

I'm 26. Well the first dermatologist told me he had no idea what it was. Then the second one said not to worry but I wasn't very satisfied with that answer. It just didn't feel right. I've search the web but the language on the MRI is so hard to understand. Thanks for your help!!!

[paula9002]

How old are you?  Can you ask your dermatologist to refer you to a different neurologist, one who would have checked into what was causing the pain (as the derm. did) and not just send you to someone else?
Why don't you try to do a search for spinal lipoma and filum terminale.  You will be surprised how much information, although general, you can get that way.  Then maybe you know what you are dealing with so that you can find the right person (dr) to help you with it.  Take care, and don't let them just send you away to be in pain.  If one says take this and sends you away or sends you to someone else, find another.  I finally found a doctor to listen to me by asking for referrals of friends, other doctors (even my dentist was willing to tell me who he used).  I made an appointment and took the small grocery bag of pills that had been given when each dr. added a pill of his own and she sat and sorted it out with me.  She also sent me to those that finally found out what was wrong.  Good luck.