[rlpna]

#8998

Hello
My husband, 40Y, got an MRI of his cervical neck and I have a question about the Saggittal veiw. The vertebre between disks C3-C6 have lines, looks like cracks, in them with some outer portions looking like chunks removed. He had a cervical MRI 6 years ago that did not have these appearances. The MRI was for neck and arm pain with no relief with treatment. My question is what are the “cracks”? Is this normal? I couldnt find much online except an undiagnosed leukemia. The MRI was without contrast. He has a bulging disk, C5-C6 with bone spurs in this area as well. Cancer is very prevalent in his family, mom, sister, grandmom, aunt. I dont want to mention anything if the cracks and chunks are normal.
Thank you.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#9002

I assume that the “cracks” you saw were in the middle of the vertebra and extended into the posterior body of the vertebra. The “white line” from the “cracked edge” extended about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way through the body of the vertebra.

If so, these are the basivertebral veins and are perfectly normal. These veins drain the blood that enters the body of the vertebra mainly through the back wall and look like defects in the vertebral body back wall. Some patients have more prominent veins than others and some MRI images catch these veins better than others.

Dr. Corenman

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