Male, 55 years old, status post removal of an intrathecal pain pump and catheter system, evaluate for abscess. Since the prior examination, the patient has undergone a bilateral laminectomy at T11 with partial resection of the T10 spinous process. A fluid collection is present within the laminectomy bed measuring up to 41 mm in CC dimension and up to 11 mm in the AP dimension. A focus of signal void within this collection probably represents a bubble of air or perhaps some surgical material. This fluid collection does bulge into the spinal canal, displacing the dura anteriorly. The conus is also displaced anteriorly and compressed.The dura along the operative bed enhances. In addition, there remains a region of intramedullary cord enhancement, but this seems to be less pronounced than on the preoperative examination. Spinal cord edema has, however, significantly improved extending only up to the T9 vertebral body, previously to the T6 vertebral body.
Findings are seen compatible with laminectomy and interval partial removal of an intraspinal abscess centered at T11. There is a fluid collection within the laminectomy bed which anteriorly displaces and compresses the conus.Intramedullary cord enhancement at the T11 level seems to have improved at least somewhat relative to the prior examination. More notable, however, is the significant interval reduction in spinal cord edema.