 There are postsurgical changes of recent syringopleural catheter placement and prior posterior thoracic fusion, with hardware extending from the T4 level inferiorly outside the field of view. Superior screws extending into the T3-T4 disc space better assessed on recent CT.Evaluation of the cervical spine demonstrates syrinx throughout the visualized cervical cord, particularly in its left aspect, and extending into the thoracic cord. Syrinx extends superiorly to the cervicomedullary junction. Comparison is limited however the partially imaged thoracic cord demonstrates marked decrease in size of the syrinx, with residual ill-defined T2 signal abnormality in the thoracic cord. In comparing the sagittal T1 sequence of the cervical cord on the current study and the sagittal T1 counting sequence on the prior study, extent of cervical syrinx is also decreased, measuring approximately 3.8 mm at the C3-C4 level in the AP dimension, previously 6.0 mm. There is a new extra thecal fluid collection in the right posterior thoracic spine which displaces the thoracic cord anteriorly. Vertebral body heights and alignment in the cervical spine are maintained. No significant cervical spinal canal or neural foraminal stenosis is evident.
1. Please note thoracic MRI was not performed as patient could not tolerate further imaging. See comment in the technique section.2. Comparison with MRI thoracic spine study from 12/24/2015 is limited, but there is marked decrease in size of the visualized portions of the cervical and thoracic syrinx. There has been interval development of an extrathecal fluid collection in the right posterior thoracic spinal canal which is partially imaged, but appears to have mass effect with displacement of the thoracic cord ventrally. Suggest patient returning for dedicated thoracic spine study for further evaluation.