MRI OF THE CERVICOTHORACOLUMBAR SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST:
MRI OF THE CERVICAL AND THORACIC SPINES:
TECHNIQUE AND FINDINGS: T1 and T2 sagittal images were obtained. Vertebral bodies are in good alignment. The marrow signal is unremarkable. Spinal cord is unremarkable in signal intensity and location. There is no compression deformity.
IMPRESSION: Essentially unremarkable cervical and thoracic MRI. There is no compression deformity. The marrow signal is unremarkable.
MRI OF THE LUMBAR SPINE:
TECHNIQUE AND FINDINGS: There is some scoliosis. There is slight reversal of the normal curvature of the lumbar spine involving upper lumbar spine. The conus is normal in location and signal intensity. There is some slight decreased signal involving L4, L5, and the sacrum on T1. An infiltrative-type process is not excluded.
At L5-S1, there is a disk bulge and posterior facet degenerative changes that in combination causes some bilateral neural foraminal narrowing, worse on the left than the right.
At L4-5, there is some trilateral narrowing due to bulging disk, posterior facet degenerative changes, and thickening of the ligamentum flavum.
At L3-4, there is some trilateral narrowing due to a combination of thickening of ligamentum flavum, posterior facet degenerative changes, and disk bulge.
At L2-3, there is also some trilateral narrowing.
At L1-2, there is a mild disk bulge and posterior facet degenerative changes. Neural foramina are slightly narrowed at this level.
IMPRESSION:
1. On T1, there is some decreased signal involving L4, L5, and the sacrum. This is not classic for metastatic disease, as there does not appear to be round lesions. There does not appear to be expansion of the bony structures. Additional workup could include a CT of the chest and the pelvis to discern whether there is an underlying process causing metastatic disease to the bone. Bone scan may be of value as well.
2. There are degenerative changes involving the lumbar spine and scoliosis. There is some trilateral narrowing at a number of levels as described above. There is no focal disk herniation.
