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What Does My MRI Scan Report Of Cervical Spine Indicate?
Question: Hello again. MRI of cervical spine done.
Mild multi-level degenerative endplate marrow change & osteophytic changes throughout most of c/s.
At C2-3 and C3-4, mild posterior disc osteophyte complexes without sig. central canal or neural foraminal overlies.
At C4-5 there is mild posterior disc osteophyte complex which is indenting the spinal cord no myelopathic signal change. Central canal & neural foramina remain patent.
At C5-6, moderate posterior disc osteophyte complex which indents the anterior spinal cord is of mild signal change. There is mild ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. There is facet jt. degeneration bilaterally which is causing moderate left and severe right neural foraminal compromise. Mild central canal stenosis.
At C6-7, there is a moderate posterior disc osteophyte complex asymmetric to the left with a component of the protrusion extending approx. 3 mm superior to the inferior endplate of C6 on the left. There is indentation of the spinal cord without myelopathic signal change. Mild central canal stenosis. Moderate to severe bilateral neural foraminal compromise. There may also be abutment of the traversing left C8 nerve root as it courses through the lateral recess.
Remainder of spine otherwise unremarkable.
Limited visualization of the paraspinal soft tissues & structures of the posterior fossa reveals no gross abnormality.
Multi-level degenerative disc osteophytic changes and facet arthropathy which is most pronounced at C5-6 and C6-7 levels.
What does this mean in layman's terms? And could tingling in my arms be connected?
Thanks in advance!
Mild multi-level degenerative endplate marrow change & osteophytic changes throughout most of c/s.
At C2-3 and C3-4, mild posterior disc osteophyte complexes without sig. central canal or neural foraminal overlies.
At C4-5 there is mild posterior disc osteophyte complex which is indenting the spinal cord no myelopathic signal change. Central canal & neural foramina remain patent.
At C5-6, moderate posterior disc osteophyte complex which indents the anterior spinal cord is of mild signal change. There is mild ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. There is facet jt. degeneration bilaterally which is causing moderate left and severe right neural foraminal compromise. Mild central canal stenosis.
At C6-7, there is a moderate posterior disc osteophyte complex asymmetric to the left with a component of the protrusion extending approx. 3 mm superior to the inferior endplate of C6 on the left. There is indentation of the spinal cord without myelopathic signal change. Mild central canal stenosis. Moderate to severe bilateral neural foraminal compromise. There may also be abutment of the traversing left C8 nerve root as it courses through the lateral recess.
Remainder of spine otherwise unremarkable.
Limited visualization of the paraspinal soft tissues & structures of the posterior fossa reveals no gross abnormality.
Multi-level degenerative disc osteophytic changes and facet arthropathy which is most pronounced at C5-6 and C6-7 levels.
What does this mean in layman's terms? And could tingling in my arms be connected?
Thanks in advance!
Brief Answer:
Yes, tingling may well be connected.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you and I am sorry that you had to write all that twice.
So cervical spine is composed of 8 bones called vertebrae. They are named with the letter C and a number from 1 to 8 (1 being highest, under the skull). Between the bony anterior vertebral bodies are situated the more elastic cartilaginous discs which absorb shock. The posterior vertebral structures are connected through these small joints called facets. There are also fibrous bands called ligaments which tie the vertebrae together reinforcing these structures.
The vertebrae form a canal inside which is situated the spinal cord. Between each pair of vertebrae there is a tunnel on each side called foramina. From the spinal cord exit nerve root pairs which leave the spine through these foramina.
With the passing of the years, these spinal structures and their joints have to endure a lot of strain. This continuous stress they are under, coupled with aging changes of the bones and discs with loss of water and minerals, cause what are called degenerative spinal changes, which can consist in formation of bony spurs called osteophytes, disc displacement called protrusion or herniation, facet joint inflammation called arthritis, thickening of the ligaments called hypertrophy. These in turn can lead to inflammation of surrounding structures and direct compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots, causing symptoms like pain of the neck irradiating in the head and shoulders, weakness, pain or abnormal sensations in the limbs etc.
Most people undergo some changes of this sort with age, in some they are more pronounced due to genetic factors, trauma (like your riding accident) or physical exertion over the years and lead to the symptoms above.
So your report speaks of precisely these sort of changes with osteophytes formation, arthritis of the facet joints etc, present along all of your cervical spine, but more pronounced in the last vertebral levels (which is common as they are the most XXXXXXX ones). These changes narrow (stenose) the spinal canal and foramina at several levels and could cause the tingling in your arms which you describe.
Management consists initially in physical therapy and pain killers if necessary. At times steroid injections are considered. Surgery is considered at times to relieve a focal site of marked stenosis and compression, but I don't think that is necessary for now in your case.
I hope to have been understandable in my explanation, feel free to ask other questions.
Yes, tingling may well be connected.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you and I am sorry that you had to write all that twice.
So cervical spine is composed of 8 bones called vertebrae. They are named with the letter C and a number from 1 to 8 (1 being highest, under the skull). Between the bony anterior vertebral bodies are situated the more elastic cartilaginous discs which absorb shock. The posterior vertebral structures are connected through these small joints called facets. There are also fibrous bands called ligaments which tie the vertebrae together reinforcing these structures.
The vertebrae form a canal inside which is situated the spinal cord. Between each pair of vertebrae there is a tunnel on each side called foramina. From the spinal cord exit nerve root pairs which leave the spine through these foramina.
With the passing of the years, these spinal structures and their joints have to endure a lot of strain. This continuous stress they are under, coupled with aging changes of the bones and discs with loss of water and minerals, cause what are called degenerative spinal changes, which can consist in formation of bony spurs called osteophytes, disc displacement called protrusion or herniation, facet joint inflammation called arthritis, thickening of the ligaments called hypertrophy. These in turn can lead to inflammation of surrounding structures and direct compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots, causing symptoms like pain of the neck irradiating in the head and shoulders, weakness, pain or abnormal sensations in the limbs etc.
Most people undergo some changes of this sort with age, in some they are more pronounced due to genetic factors, trauma (like your riding accident) or physical exertion over the years and lead to the symptoms above.
So your report speaks of precisely these sort of changes with osteophytes formation, arthritis of the facet joints etc, present along all of your cervical spine, but more pronounced in the last vertebral levels (which is common as they are the most XXXXXXX ones). These changes narrow (stenose) the spinal canal and foramina at several levels and could cause the tingling in your arms which you describe.
Management consists initially in physical therapy and pain killers if necessary. At times steroid injections are considered. Surgery is considered at times to relieve a focal site of marked stenosis and compression, but I don't think that is necessary for now in your case.
I hope to have been understandable in my explanation, feel free to ask other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks, I now have a better understanding, which may come in handy when I next see the dr.
Brief Answer:
You're welcome!
Detailed Answer:
I am glad to have been of help.
I hope you will feel better soon.
You're welcome!
Detailed Answer:
I am glad to have been of help.
I hope you will feel better soon.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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