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MRI CERVICAL SPINE
HISTORY….ANTEOLISTHESIS
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
PRODUCTURE(S) c-spine ne with 1 pul seq-vc

Anterolisthesis of c2 c3
Findings…Sagittal t1 flair were obtained through the cervical spine. Axial gradient echo sequences were obtained rfom c2 and c3

Comparrisons 8/9/2012 CT
Their is no Chiari 1 malformation. No cord signal abormality is seen.There is reversal of of the normal cervical lordosis. There is a multilevel degeneration disc disease with severe degenerative disc disease from C4 -. C7
There is multilevel bilateral facet oa

c2-c3…There is a 5mm anterolisthesis of c2 on c3 unchanged causing mild to moderate spinal canal stenosis. There is associated didc bulge containing the cervical cord but no cord signal abormamality. There is to .
mild to moderate right neural foramen narrowing secondary to osteophyte.
The Posterior longitudinal ligament appears intact.

Can’t make out c3 and c4 from printer

c4 c5There is posterior osteophyte contacting the cord. Mild to moderate spinal canal stenosis There is is moderate left neural from narrowing and mild to moderate right neual foramen narrowing.

c5 c6There is left paracentral/lateral recess disc osteophyte complex contracting the cord.No cord signial
abnormality. T here is moderate spinal canal stenosis. There is moderate left neural foremen narrowing, and mild right neural foramen narrowing.

c6 c7 Small disc osteophyte complex. N osignificent spinal canal stenosis.There is mild left neural foremaen narrowing.

impression
There is a 5m anterolistheses of c2=c3 associated with mild to moderate spinal canal stenosis. Fusion of of the left c3-c4 facet which may be the cause of for the hypomobile of the upper cervical spine at c2-c3 causing anterolisthesis. F lexion/extension xrays may be helpful to assess for stability.
There is moderate spinal canal stenosis at c5 c6. There is mild to moderate spinal canal stenosis at c4-c5 Multilevel degenerative disease.

I typed this with one finger on note and put on word by word. Hope it make sense and Dr Coleman can tell me what it means please. Carol

Hi Doc,need some major advice had a mri that says i have borderline stenosis 8 mmm ap cervical cord size in few areas c5.6 disk spur and material in anterior epidural space with complete effacement,bony right narrowing 8mm ap cord size,c57 disk and spur material anteriorly especialy on right side right lateral recess and right foraminal narrowing ,slight indentation of right side of cord no no displacement of compression .c 3.4 disk and spur material in anterior epidural space in symetrical fasion,uncinate hypertrophy narrowing left foramen,ap measurment is 9 mm , c4 .5 disk and spur material in anterion epi dural space simetricaly bony narrowing both sides no central stenosis or cord compression. 2 nd mri of same area says some linear hyperintense “SIGNAL” near mouth level thought to be from swallowing or movement.. straigtning of c spine… and c 3..4 congenital narrowing ,uncovertabrl hypertrophy broad based disk osteophytes flatens anterior ventral csf compartment causing left moderate to right moderate foraminal narrowing,canal narrowing w/borderline spinal stenosis.same for c4 ..5….. c 5…6 right para central broad base disk osteophytes ,uncov hypertrphy cause bilateral foraminal narrowing, canal narrowing w/borderline stenosis.. c6…7 disk herniation indents anterior ventral csf compartment canal narrowing,borderline spinal stenosis..right facet disease causing moderate to severe foraminal stenosis.. c7 ..8 no significant stenosis or narrowing..now my docs exam showed .. i have weakness in arms hand legs balence issue,pain in shoulder arm and and neck and headaches dizziness tingeling and knumbness in my finger and side of great toe positive slr,ue 4/5 reflexes 3/4 planters and flexers b/l decreased sensation in big toes and right sied urinary dificulties and and some lack of sensation arms,im am having difficulty with babance,difficulty with doing small stuff with hands ,grasping things is difficult and numbness and tingeling are always present in my right hand and fingers and this is only my neck issuemy lumbar spine is just as bad but thats another forum.. …decrease rom in neck .now my delema is although the neur doesnt think these finding are of major signifcance and although he feel there are issue of concern (foraminal stenosis and nerve involvement)is the question that in question,how much causes issues… my internist feel a bit more concerned and of coarse im pretty unconmfortable with alot of pain and issue that interfere with my adls im confused why there is such a difference of opinions and the same with the radiologist repot why such difference in wording and opinions..i know what i feel and its certanly very far from normal ..your opinion would be greatly appriciated , now ive heard so many things on cord contact some say it has to be a certain amount to cause symptoms other say nerve and cord are very sensative and minor amounts can produce issues and also what happens with movement doesnt that increase the stenosis thus cause symptoms to worsen if there borderline impingement and stenosis..feel like im going crazy..

Hey everyone. I’ve never posted but reading was helpful when I was first going through this. I herniated my L5 disc for the first time in 2007. I bought these wonderful arch supports and it aligned itself back.

Forward to July of 2012. I was in the worst pain. I was bedridden for a month. The pain radiated from my behind to my right ankle. I had 2 epidurals and everything was great. Come Thanksgiving, the pain was back. I had 2 more injections but they didn’t help. I had the microdiscectomy at the beginning of January and I have just been so thankful.

I’ve had very minor phantom pain. It was sticking to my right calf. I still have numbness in the area, but the numbness in my foot is gone.

Today I have been experiencing sciatic pain in the same area, the right buttocks. It isn’t horrible- maybe a 3-4/10. It has only been going on for a couple of hours and comes and goes. I’m just very nervous. Has anyone experienced this? My doctor told me (after the surgery) to worry if the pain came back at the same intensity or worse. Anyone who has experienced this, I would GREATLY appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks for an extremely comprehensive and informative site.

Yesterday I received the results/radiologist interpretation of the cervical MRI conducted on May 7, 2013, and while I pretty much understand the general gist of the interpretation as explained by my GP, it’s hard to remember all the specifics and while extensive research via google has enabled me to fill in some of the blanks, I would very much appreciate it if you could give me your interpretation of the result and answer a couple of quick specific questions.

As a little background, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid auto-immune disease in January 2012, but am seronegative – and have also been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and vitamin D deficiency (causing overlapping symptoms). While physically examining my spine and joints, my doctor mentioned the possibility that I have a “touch of fibro” and also mentioned connective tissue disorder (though latest blood work showed I test negative for lupus).

I have had peripheral neuropathy issues and symptoms starting back around 2010, which we first suspected to be related to carpal and ulnar tunnel compression (I am a graphic/web designer as well as hand crafter, consequently have spent years conducting repetitive motion activities).

The peripheral neuropathy symptoms include numbness/tingling, etc. now present in all fingers and both hands, until recently set off if I maintained the same position for more than 5-10 minutes, but now is pretty much constant. Also have same issues with feet/toes, parts of legs and occasional numbness in thighs and buttocks (I have herniated lumbar discs and persistent sciatica). Fingers also often become icy cold, most usually pinky and ring fingers.

I also have muscle weakness and some coordination/balance issues, I often drop things and have a hard time lifting, grasping, etc. This past week I had a couple of episodes of extreme lack of balance upon waking up – had just received a u-shaped full length body pillow, which is wonderful for RA and spinal aches and pains, but I think the first couple of nights slept with my neck at an odd angle (and, ironically, due to amino acid therapy, have only very recently been able to sleep more than an or or so at a time without waking up due to pain) – upon waking up was extremely unbalanced, basically careened off the side walls of the hallway on my way to the restroom (after receiving MRI results, I suspect this is due to straightening of the cervical lordosis?)

While my neck “crackles and pops” I do not have constant pain in my neck region. However, after conducting activities that require me to have my head bent forwards for any amount of time results in moderate to extreme pain in my neck and upper back.

Surgery has now been presented as my only real option, and my GP is very conservative when it comes to suggesting surgery, so I pay attention when he does – though he did say first I need to see a neurologist and have EMG and NCS testing conducted. Unfortunately, I am in the middle of battling it out with my new husband’s health insurance company as to whether or not I am currently fully covered, so I may not be able to do anything until January 2013 – thus, I am curious as to whether there is any kind of “timeline” I should be aware of – I know each individual is different and so I’m sure it’s hard to predict exactly how quickly further degeneration may take place, but if there’s any king of rough idea of how long I can afford to wait, that would be helpful!

OK, here are my MRI rests (btw, this was an open MRI, can’t afford traditional MRI out of pocket at the moment):

0.35 TESLA MR EXAMINATION OF THE CERVICAL SPINE PERFORMED WITHOUT THE ADMINISTRATION OF INTRAVENOUS CONTRAST MEDIA.

INDICATION

MR FINDINGS: Modic type changes are noted in the cervical spine. There is straightening of the cervical lordosis. Critical osseous central canal stenosis is not demonstrated. There are hypertropic changes of the uncovertebral joints and facet joints of the cervical spine with compromise of the right and left c5-c6 and c6-c7 neural foramina and right c4-c5 neural foramina. This is less pronounced than at the c4-c5 level than the c5-c6 and c6-c7 levels.

Intradural Strucures: The cerebellar tonsils are in unremarkable anatomic alignment position. The cervical spinal cord is unremarkable in appearance. I see no unequivocal evidence of ominous pathologic intramedullary or extra medullary-intradural defect.

Extradural Structures: The predental space shows no evidence of pathologic widening. The trans-alar ligaments how no evidence of pathologic thickening.

C2-C3 and C3-C4 Intervertebral Disc: There is mild desiccation of intervertebral disc with maintenance of disc space height and the peripheral margins of the intervertebral disc parallel that of the adjacent vertebral end plates.

C4-C5 Intervertebral Disc: There is mild desiccation of intervertebral disc. The disc space height is appropriate. There is focal protrusion of the intervertebral disc with annulus fibrosus tear without spinal cord effacement associated therwith as shown on series 2 image #5 and series 4 image #7.

C5-C6 Intervertebral Disc: There is moderate desiccation of intervertebral disc with maintenance of disc space height and posterior herniation of the intervertebral disc effacing the cervical spinal cord as shown on series 3 image #4, #5, and #6 and axial image #10.

C6-C7 Intervertebral Disc: There is moderate desiccation of intervertebral disc with maintenance of disc space height and posterior herniation of the intervertebral disc effacing the cervical spinal cord eccentric toward the left side of midline as shown on series 2 image #5 and series 4 image #13.

C7-T1, T1-T2, and T2-T3 Intervertebral Disc: There is mild desiccation of intervertebral disc with maintenance of disc space height and the peripheral margins of the intervertebral disc parallel that of the adjacent vertebral end plates.

The posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine appears to be intact.

Paraspinous Structures: Ominous soft tissue paraspinous mass lesions are not appreciated. The paraspinous muscles are symmetric in appearance. Normal signal void is appreciated within the right and left vertebral arteries.

Prior Examiniations: Prior examinations of the cervical pine are not available for comparison or correlation purposes.

RADIOGRAPHIC SUMMARY:

While I am interested in your general interpretation, also specifically curious as to “herniation of the intervertebral disc effacing the cervical spinal column” – have been trying to research exactly what effacing the cervical spinal column means – get the gist of it, but seems that other people’s MRI reports are more specific and include info regarding spinal cord compression?

I’ve also attached an image I pulled from the MRI – both my GP and I think that C4-C5 may actually be herniated as well, and I demonstrate some symptoms of compression of the C5 nerve.

Additionally, I demonstrate symptoms of compression of the C8 nerve (sensory changes of ring and little fingers, lower side of forearm, muscle weakness).

Also, does “advanced cervical spine pathology” mean what I think it does – as in, literally, the condition of my spine is “advanced”?

Thank you very much for any info you are able to provide!

Well, it won’t let me insert a link to the image, tells me the message is spam because a url is included, but I see no option to directly upload an image, only to link a url.