Male, 61 years old, with left chest pain and T11 radiculopathy, assess for compression fractures. Thoracic:Spinal alignment is anatomic. Vertebral body height and morphology are within normal limits. T1 and T2 hypointensity within the T11 vertebral body, contiguous with the inferior endplate, is seen suggestive of a Schmorl's node. No significant associated marrow edema is seen. A T1 hypointense, T2 isointense lesion is evident anteriorly within the T12 vertebral body, contiguous with the superior T12 endplate, with a mild rim of associated marrow edema. Neither vertebral body shows significant loss of height and no frank compression deformities are seen.The visualized spinal cord demonstrates normal signal intensity and morphology. No epidural abnormalities are suspected.A small left paracentral disc protrusion is seen at T7-8. A small right paracentral disc protrusion is seen at T8-9. The T10-11 and T11-12 discs show loss of T2 signal and mild loss of height. Facet hypertrophy develops at lower thoracic levels, particularly notable at T10-11 and T11-12. The left T11-12 neural foramen is mildly narrowed as a result. No other significant spinal canal or foraminal compromise is seen.Limited views of the cervical spine demonstrate multilevel disc osteophyte formation and perhaps some thickening of the posterior longitudinal ligament which results in spinal canal stenosis and possible cord impingement.Lumbar:Spinal alignment is anatomic. Vertebral body heights are preserved. No pathologic marrow replacement or marrow edema is seen.The visualized distal spinal cord, conus and cauda equina are within normal limits. No epidural abnormalities are suspected.Significant loss of disc height is seen at L5-S1 with endplate irregularity. Additional level specific degenerative findings are as follows:L1-2: No significant spinal canal stenosis or neuroforaminal narrowing. L2-3: No significant spinal canal stenosis or neuroforaminal narrowing. L3-4: Facet hypertrophy and ligamentum flavum thickening. No significant spinal canal or neuroforaminal stenosis. L4-5: Facet hypertrophy and ligamentum flavum thickening. Bulging disc with a small superimposed central protrusion. Mild generalized spinal canal narrowing with some effacement of the left lateral recess. Both neural foramina are significantly narrowed. L5-S1: Facet hypertrophy and ligamentum flavum thickening. Bulging disc with a superimposed left paracentral disc protrusion. This protrusion may impinge upon the descending left S1 nerve root. No significant generalized spinal canal stenosis is seen. However, both neural foramina are severely narrowed.
1.Marrow signal change is evident within T11 and T12, centered along the endplates, and favored to represent degenerative Schmorl's nodes. Although Schmorl's nodes are a frequent incidental finding, they can be symptomatic in the acute phase.2.No evidence of any frank compression deformity is seen in the thoracic or lumbar spine.3.At L4-5, disc degeneration and facet hypertrophy result in a mild spinal canal narrowing and significant compromise of the bilateral neural foramina grade4.L5-S1, disc degeneration with a left paracentral disc protrusion is seen with possible impingement of the left S1 nerve root. This, along with facet hypertrophy, contributes to severe bilateral foraminal narrowing.5.Multilevel degenerative findings are partially visualized in the cervical spine with areas of canal stenosis and possible cord impingement. This can be assessed with dedicated cervical spine imaging if clinically warranted.