Low back pain and numbness, saddle anesthesia, fecal incontinence, urinary retention/overflow incontinence. Evaluate for cord compression. Examination is obtained per screening adult cord compression spine MRI protocol. There are postsurgical changes of laminectomy and posterior spinal fusion from L4 to S1. There is no evidence of cord compression or compression of the cauda equina in the lumbar spine. The vertebral bodies are appropriate in height. Alignment is grossly maintained. Small disk bulges are seen throughout the lumbar spine without evidence of significant spinal canal stenosis. There is no compromise of the spinal cord. No evidence of high-grade stenosis within the lumbar spine. Examination is suboptimal for assessment of cord signal abnormality. There is apparent hyperintense STIR signal within the cervical cord which may be artifactual.Scattered foci of T1 hyperintensity in the spine are compatible with focal fat or hemangiomas. There is a T2 hyperintense focus involving the inferior aspect of the T9 vertebral body which is nonspecific.
1. No evidence of cord compression or compression of the cauda equina. 2. Apparent increased T2/STIR signal in the cervical spine may be artifactual. If there is clinical suspicion for cervical myelopathy, recommend dedicated cervical spine MRI.This is a limited exam specific for the exclusion of cord compression only and does not exclude more subtle lesions such as intrinsic cord abnormalities. Due to the screening nature of this protocol, details are not as evident on imaging as dedicated protocols of the spine. Dr. Ali discussed findings with Dr. Ahn on 1/7/2014.