71-year-old female with a history of breast cancer and with acute back pain. Evaluate for discitis. There is straightening of the lumbar curvature appearing similar to the prior exam. There is also some dextroscoliosis of the lower lumbar spine as seen on the recent radiograph. The vertebral body heights are preserved. There is variable disc height loss in the upper lumbar spine most prominent at the L2-3 level. Additional endplate degenerative changes including Schmorl's nodes are seen in the L1-L4 vertebral levels. There has been no significant change in edema and enhancement involving the left aspect of the superior L4 endplate which is likely on a degenerative basis. There is no evidence of discitis. There is no significant spinal canal stenosis. The spinal cord displays normal signal and morphology and terminates at the L1 level. The paravertebral soft tissues are unremarkable. Degenerative changes are seen in the cervical spine as described below:T12-L1 and L1-L2: Mild loss of disc height and without significant disc protrusion or neural foraminal or spinal canal compromise. L2-L3: Moderate disc disease with a small disc bulge and mild facet arthropathy. Minimal right neural foraminal narrowing. No spinal canal stenosis.L3-L4: Moderate disc disease, minimal disc bulge and mild facet arthropathy. No significant compromise of the spinal canal and neural foramina.L4-5 and L5-S1: Mild disc disease without disc bulge or compromise of the spinal canal or neural foramina.
1.Redemonstration of mild degenerative changes throughout the lumbar spine without evidence of discitis. 2.No significant change in edema and enhancement involving the left aspect of the superior L4 endplate likely on a degenerative basis.3.No evidence of metastatic disease in the spine. No compression fractures.