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Posted 12/28/2015 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
i had a catscan last week. got the results today via email. i had surgery last year on my neck.well i started to get neck pain again and these are my results.does anyone hear know what this means and does it sound like i might need another surgery ? i have an appointment at the end of January, but kinda want to know a little bit now on what might be going on. thanks Smile

CLINICAL HISTORY:
M54.2 Cervicalgia Z98.1 Arthrodesis status M79.603 Pain in arm,
unspecified .

COMPARISON:
MRI 03/24/2015, x-rays 06/16/2014

TECHNIQUE:
Thin section helical images were obtained and reconstructed into the
coronal and sagittal planes.

FINDINGS:
No acute fracture or dislocation is identified. Spinal alignment is
within normal limits. Patient is status post fusion, internal
fixation and placement of disc spacers at C4-C5 and C5-C6. There is
diffuse sclerosis of the inferior aspect of C4, superior aspect of C6
and all of C5. There is moderate beam hardening artifact at these
levels. C2-C3 is within normal limits. There is minimal disc space
narrowing, disc bulging and hypertrophic change at C3-C4 but without
any foraminal or spinal canal narrowing. Postsurgical changes present
from C4 through C6 without any gross foraminal or spinal canal
narrowing. There is loss of detail due to the streak artifact. No
disc herniation or foraminal narrowing is seen at C6-C7. Facets are
unremarkable.
Posted 12/28/2015 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
This one was from last year. does anyone know if there was any changes ? No acute fracture or dislocation is identified. Spinal alignment is
within normal limits. Patient is status post fusion, internal
fixation and placement of disc spacers at C4-C5 and C5-C6. There is
diffuse sclerosis of the inferior aspect of C4, superior aspect of C6
and all of C5. There is moderate beam hardening artifact at these
levels. C2-C3 is within normal limits. There is minimal disc space
narrowing, disc bulging and hypertrophic change at C3-C4 but without
any foraminal or spinal canal narrowing. Postsurgical changes present
from C4 through C6 without any gross foraminal or spinal canal
narrowing. There is loss of detail due to the streak artifact. No
disc herniation or foraminal narrowing is seen at C6-C7. Facets are
unremarkable.
Posted 12/28/2015 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Keep in mind none of us are drs here, but these reports are very much the same. I don't see anything to get excited about. Your best bet is wait until you see your dr. Good luck.
Posted 12/28/2015 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with Susie. Localized sclerosis (increased bone density) is a stress response. It is usually seen with arthritis or chronic inflammation, but can also be a normal post-surgical response. Talk to your doctor, but it doesn't sound like any of the findings are really significant.

Skeye
Posted 12/28/2015 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with them but I will say I don't see any changes in the two scans. You do have a very minimal amount of disc bulge above the fusion site but those changes could also be like the sclerosis,a direct result from surgery or aging and stress factors.

I don't see anything indicating another surgery is warranted and if someone suggests that be sure and get a second opinion. The fusion looks normal with no issues other than the hardening of the bone. The streaking effect could be hiding something but it's not likely and there's really nothing to do about the loss of image from it,part and parcel with spacers and hardware in scanners.
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