11-year-old male with bilateral weakness. Rule out demyelinating injury. Limited view of the cervical spine on nondedicated localizer images shows no obvious Chiari malformation. The thoracic vertebral bodies are appropriate in overall alignment and height. There is prominence of the central canal of the spinal cord versus small syrinx extending to the level of T8-9, measuring up to 2.3 mm at the level of T6. The surrounding cord signal is normal. There is no compromise of thoracic spinal canal or exiting nerve roots. Axial images of the lumbar spine are virtually nondiagnostic due to degradation by motion artifact. Five lumbar type vertebral bodies are presumed to be present which are appropriate in overall alignment and height. There is no abnormal cord signal or abnormal cord morphology. Reading through the artifact on axial images and seen in limited fashion on sagittal images, there is suspicion of minimal fat within the filum terminale.The conus medullaris on sagittal imaging is grossly intact and in normal position at the level of L1-2. Rudimentary disk space is seen between S1 and S2. There is no significant compromise to the spinal canal or neural foramina at any level.
Prominent central canal versus small syrinx extending to the level of T8-9. Despite motion artifact, there is also suspicion for minimal fat signal within the filum terminale. These findings raise concern for tethered cord, and repeat exam of the lumbar spine with tethered cord protocol is recommended, as well as MRI of the brain/cervical spine to evaluate for Chiari malformation. Pediatric neurosurgical consultation is also advised.Findings related telephone to Dr. Green at 11:03 a.m. on 4/30/2015.