Male, 54 years old, with cervicalgia. Slight reversal of the cervical adenosis is seen. Sagittal alignment is otherwise anatomic. Vertebral body height and morphology are within normal limits. No evidence of marrow replacement or edema is seen.Multiple areas of patchy abnormal cord signal intensity are seen beginning at approximately the C4 level and continuing down to at least the C7 level (see key images). These lesions appear to involve the dorsal and lateral columns with relative sparing of the central gray matter. No swelling or edema is seen and, if anything, some of the affected areas demonstrate mild volume loss.C2-3: Facet arthropathy. No significant spinal canal or foraminal compromise.C3-4: Left facet arthropathy. Minimal posterior disc-osteophyte complex formation. No spinal canal or foraminal compromise. C4-5: Left facet arthropathy. Mild posterior disc-osteophyte complex formation with central focality. Effacement of the ventral thecal sac but no significant spinal canal compromise. Mild narrowing of the right neural foramen. C5-6: Facet arthropathy. Mild posterior disc-osteophyte complex formation. No significant spinal canal compromise. Mild bilateral foraminal narrowing. C6-7: Facet arthropathy. No significant spinal canal compromise. Mild left foraminal narrowing. C7-T1: Unremarkable.
1.Relatively mild disc and facet degeneration is seen which does not cause significant spinal canal or foraminal stenosis at any level.2.Multiple small areas of abnormal spinal cord signal are demonstrated involving the lateral and dorsal columns. The cord is not swollen and in some affected areas, there appears to be volume loss which would suggest a chronic process. The differential would include sequelae of prior demyelinating disease, a postinfectious or autoimmune phenomenon, or a metabolic abnormality such as subacute combined degeneration.