47 years Male (DOB:2/1/1969)Reason: evaluate disc disease History: painPROVIDER/ATTENDING NAME: SUSAN HONG SUSAN HONG MRI thoracic spine:The thoracic vertebral bodies are appropriate in the overall alignment. There is mild superior endplate compression at T3 and T4 which is unchanged compared to the previous exam. The thoracic spinal cord has normal signal characteristics and overall morphology. There is no compromise of thoracic spinal canal or exiting nerve roots. At T11-T12 there is a left lateral recess disc protrusion extending into the left T10-T11 neural foramen. There is associated mild displacement of the spinal cord towards the right side. This is new since the prior examLumbar spine:Five lumbar type vertebral bodies are presumed to be present which are appropriate in overall alignment and height. The conus medullaris on sagittal imaging is grossly intact.At L5-S1 there is no significant compromise to spinal canal or neural foramina.At L4-5 there is redemonstration of some loss of disc space height, disc desiccation and a broad-based left lateral recess disc protrusion. There is T2 signal hyperintensity along the periphery of the disc at the site of the broad-based left lateral recess disc protrusion. There is mild encroachment of the nerve roots at the lateral recess on the right and moderate encroachment of the nerve roots at the left lateral recess. Since the prior exam there is slightly less encroachment of the nerve roots at the left lateral recess. Signal characteristics within the disc have changed and are now high signal on T2 along the periphery of the disc protrusion.At L3-4 there is no significant compromise to spinal canal or neural foramina.At L2-3 there is no significant compromise to spinal canal or neural foramina.At L1-2 there is no significant compromise to spinal canal or neural foramina.
1.Degenerative changes are present lumbar spine with a broad-based disc protrusion at L4-5 which was previously present. There is associated moderate encroachment of nerve roots at the left lateral recess at this level and mild encroachment of the nerve roots of the right lateral recess at this level. Although the degree of nerve root encroachment has not changed significantly signal characteristics of the disc have altered 2.There is a new left lateral recess disc protrusion at T11-T12 encroaching the left-sided exiting nerve root and mildly displaces the spinal cord.3.Mild superior endplate compressions in the upper thoracic spine are stable compared to the previous exam.