MRI EXAMINATION OF THE LUMBAR SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST

MRI EXAMINATION OF THE LUMBAR SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST

INDICATION FOR STUDY:         Back pain.  T12 compression fracture.

FINDINGS:               Sagittal T1 and T2 and axial T1 and T2 weighted images were obtained on the 1.5 Tesla GE MRI without contrast.  There is desiccation of the disc and slight disc space loss at L4-L5.  There is minimal offset of a few millimeters at this level secondary to degenerative changes.  The conus and nerve roots within the thecal sac show no gross abnormality.  There is significant almost complete collapse of the T12 vertebral body and would recommend reference to the MRI examination of the thoracic spine.  There is significant indentation on the thecal sac at the T11-T12 level secondary to the compression fracture with slight retropulsed bony fragment on the superior aspect causing mild-to-slightly-moderate indentation on the anterior thecal sac.  There is no significant neuroforaminal narrowing.  This is seen on image 9 and 10 of series 7 and on image 7 of series 110.  There is no significant central canal stenosis or indentation on the anterior thecal sac at the T12-L1 level and the disc space at this level and disc appear without other gross abnormality.

At the L1-L2 level, there is slight indentation on the anterior thecal sac from mild disc bulge, but no significant central canal stenosis or neuroforaminal narrowing.  There are slight degenerative changes of the facet joints.

At the L2-L3 level, there is no significant disc herniation, central canal stenosis, or neuroforaminal narrowing and there are slight degenerative changes of the facet joints and this is also true at the L3-L4 level.

At the L4-L5 level, there are degenerative changes of the facet joints and indentation on the anterior thecal sac, but no significant central canal stenosis or neuroforaminal narrowing.

At the L5-S1 level, there is no significant disc herniation, central canal stenosis, or neuroforaminal narrowing.

IMPRESSION:         Significant compression fracture at the T12 with almost complete collapse of the vertebral body.

At the T11-T12 level, there is slight retropulsed bony fragment on the superior aspect of the posterior T12 vertebral body causing mild-to-slightly-moderate indentation on the anterior thecal sac in this region.  The cord appears to end at approximately the T12-L1 level.  Would recommend reference to the patient’s MRI examination of the thoracic spine also.  The lumbar levels show no significant central canal stenosis or neuroforaminal narrowing.  There is indentation on the anterior thecal sac as discussed above and slight degenerative changes of the facet joints for each of the levels.  There is no significant compression fracture in the lumbar vertebral bodies.  There are degenerative changes.

Thank you for the referral.

XXXXXXXX, M.D.