Can't Understand my MRI

[matlee123]

Hello,

I had an MRI of my C-spine and my doctor didn't explain the terms and I'm a bit scared about the meaning. Can you help me understand the terms from the report?

C7-T1: There is no significant disc bulge at this lever. There is mild bilateral uncinate spurring present. However, on sagital image 8 series 3 there is abnormal signal within the spinal cored. There is motion artifact at this level on the axial images which li
mits evaluation. Subtle high signal on the STIR images may be present in this location. This does not appear to be related to artifact.

Impression: There is no significant disc bulge at C7-T1. There is no canal stenosis. However, there is focal abnormal high signal in the cord at this level seen on image 8 series 3. This edema is less conspicuous on axial images, possibly related to motion artifact. Correlation with any outside MRIs of C-spine would be helpful to confirm stability of this finding. If none are available, continued surveillance of this lesion with MRI may be necessary.

[jensequitur]

Did the MRI actually say where the lesion was?

[Twinsmom06]

I agree with twopack (Mary) on this one. Sounds like they see something but can't be sure of what it is and having a historical reference (previous MRI) would be helpful. If that is not available...then a follow-up MRI at a future date should be highly considered for monitoring reasons.

Please keep us posted on what your doc says about these findings.
Take care,
Kim

[twopack]

Spurring is usually associated with arthritis.

Artifact refers to something that appears in the image that shouldn't be there but does only because of some kind of mechanical 'static' or interference or patient movement.  (It can't be helped.  You must breathe!)

No canal stenosis means there no narrowed areas to put pressure on the spinal cord (the nerve fibers that are encased by the boney vertebrae of the spinal column).

There seems to be one questionable area (where your cervical and thoracic vertebrae come together) that can't be confirmed as abnormal.  Again, it could be the result of movement.  It is clearer from the 'side' than it is from the 'top' view.

The radiologist would like to know if there are any previous images to compare with this one.  If not, he thinks the doctor might want to take another look at a future date.

That's my take on it anyway.  I hate when reports are released before docs talk to us.  The language tends to sound deadly no matter what.  Please call your doctor's office tomorrow for interpretation or clarification.

Mary