UPRIGHT MRI EXAMINATION OF THE CERVICAL SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST WITH ADDITIONAL SAGITTAL FLEXION AND EXTENSION UPRIGHT VIEWS

UPRIGHT MRI EXAMINATION OF THE CERVICAL SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST WITH ADDITIONAL SAGITTAL FLEXION AND EXTENSION UPRIGHT VIEWS

FINDINGS:                 Sagittal T1 and T2, axial T2, and additional MRI sagittal flexion and extension views were obtained on the upright MRI.  The patient had a prior study from
XXXXXXXXX for comparison.  The vertebral bodies appear in relatively good alignment.  There is disc space loss at the levels of C5-C6 and C6-C7, which were also seen previously.  The cord shows no significant signal abnormality.  There is no Chiari malformation.

At the level of C2-C3, there is no significant disc herniation, central canal stenosis, or neuroforaminal narrowing.

At the level of C3-C4, there is a central disc herniation with indentation on the anterior thecal sac.  There is also right lateral disc herniation with right neuroforaminal narrowing, but no significant left neuroforaminal narrowing.  These changes are new compared to the prior study.

At the level of C4-C5, there is a central disc herniation with indentation on the anterior thecal sac and cord.  There is no significant central canal stenosis or neuroforaminal narrowing.  This once again is new compared to the patient’s prior study.

At the level of C5-C6, there is a central disc herniation with indentation on the anterior thecal sac.  There is disc space loss.  There is no significant central canal stenosis.  The disc herniation also touches upon the cord.  This appears slightly more prominent than what was seen previously, especially on the extension views.  There is no significant neuroforaminal narrowing.

At the level of C6-C7, there is a central disc herniation with no significant central canal stenosis.  This once again appears more prominent than what was seen previously especially on the sagittal extension views.  This is seen on image 7 of series 106.  There is no significant neuroforaminal narrowing on the right.  On the left, there is also left lateral disc herniation causing left neuroforaminal narrowing, which was seen previously.

At the level of C7-T1, there is a central disc herniation with indentation on the anterior thecal sac.  There is no significant central canal stenosis or neuroforaminal narrowing.  Once again, this is seen best on image 7 of series 106 on the extension sagittal views.  This was not seen previously.

IMPRESSION:           New areas of disc herniation at the levels of C3-C4, C4-C5, and C7-T1.  There is disc space loss at C5-C6 and C6-C7 with central disc herniations.  These appear slightly more prominent especially on the sagittal extension views compared to the prior study.  There is also neuroforaminal narrowing as discussed above especially at the level of C3-C4 on the right, which was not seen previously.  Would recommend clinical correlation or further evaluation as needed.

Thank you for the referral.

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