Female, 54 years old, with history of neuromyelitis optica and worsening weakness and numbness. Follow-up exam. Cervical:The previously seen long segment cervical spinal cord signal abnormality and edema has significantly improved. Mild residual signal abnormality is evident within the left ventral cord at C2 and in the right lateral cord at C7. No areas of cord expansion are seen and cord volume is preserved.Spinal alignment is anatomic. Vertebral body heights are preserved. No concerning marrow signal abnormality is detected. The intervertebral discs demonstrate loss of height and there is disc osteophyte formation at all levels. Mild spinal canal stenosis is seen at C3-4, C4-5 and C5-6, without significant interval change. Moderate bilateral foraminal narrowing is seen at C4-5, with severe left and mild right foraminal narrowing at C5-6, unchanged. Thoracic:Minimal T2 signal abnormality is seen in the right lateral cord extending from T1 down to approximately T6. This was not clearly evident on prior examinations, though the finding is quite subtle and may not have been visualized previously due to differences in technique. No evidence of cord expansion or cord volume loss is seen.The thoracic kyphosis is mildly exaggerated but sagittal alignment is otherwise unremarkable. Vertebral body height and morphology are within normal limits. No concerning marrow replacement or marrow edema is observed. Minimal degenerative disc disease is seen with no significant spinal canal or foraminal stenosis.
1.Significant improvement in the severity of cervical spinal cord T2 hyperintensity when compared to prior examinations. Only two small areas of residual cord signal abnormality are demonstrated.2.Very mild T2 hyperintensity is seen within the right lateral cord in the thoracic spine as above. This finding was not clearly evident on prior examinations, though differences in MRI technique may contribute. 