Acquired deformity of head.IMAGE ACQUISITIONS: 1 mm contiguous axial CT sections of brain and skull base. Postoperative status post suboccipital craniectomy and cranioplasty for Chiari decompression are again noted. There has also been left parietal craniotomy. There is a very small amount of nonspecific extra axial fluid deep to the inferior aspect of the right suboccipital cranioplasty flap. As on previous scans, cerebellar tonsils extend through the foramen magnum. Brain parenchymal attenuation is normal. There is no hydrocephalus.Postoperative change is again noticed that status post multilevel cervical laminectomy. There is a linear hyperdense structure within the spinal canal at the C5 level. This appears to be within the substance of the spinal cord. Comparison with a previous MRI of the cervical spine dated 01/31/2008 suggests possible subtle low signal intensity in this region on gradient echo axial images. It would be helpful to follow-up with a repeat MRI of the cervical spine to determine whether this calcified or ossified structure is new since there are no prior CTs of the cervical spine.
1.Normal postoperative changes status post suboccipital cranioplasty and left parietal craniotomy.2.It would be helpful to compare with the previous CT scan of the cervical spine if there is a prior outside exam. Otherwise, a follow-up MRI of the cervical spine would be helpful to discern determine whether there is new signal change in the substance of the cervical spinal cord at C5, corresponding with calcified or ossified structure within the substance of the cord at the C5 level.