Hi all,
I have a fusion at C6/7 and yesterday had an MRI since I've been having shoulder blade and arm pain - I'm a little curious as to the meaning of C4-C6, any insight would be much appreciated! I also wonder what the heck "low grade degenerative changes" are - am I just getting old? lol.
Thanks,
Kelly

MRI CERVICAL SPINE NONCONTRAST 9/8/2014

CLINICAL INFORMATION: Increasing neck pain with radicular symptoms into
the arms. History of C6-C7 surgery. Request noncontrast examination.

PROCEDURE: Using a 1.5 Tesla GE unit, an MRI of the cervical spine was
performed. Imaging sequences included sagittal T2, STIR and T1 FLAIR
weighted images as well as axial gradient images through the disks.

COMPARISONS: None.

FINDINGS:

No abnormalities are seen at the cervicomedullary junction. The
morphology and signal characteristics of the cervical and upper
thoracic cord are normal throughout. The cord is visualized from the
skullbase to upper T4.

With regards to the marrow space, there is straightening of the
cervical spine without malalignment. Susceptibility artifact is seen
related to anterior spinal fusion hardware at the C6 and C7 levels.
Marrow signal and vertebral heights are normal.

With regards to the discs, a small focal midline disc protrusion is
seen at the C2-C3 level slightly indenting the thecal sac without
spinal or neural foraminal stenosis.

At the C3-C4 level, a broad but shallow disc protrusion is seen
slightly indenting the anterior thecal sac without spinal stenosis.
Minor uncovertebral spurring is seen causing minimal encroachment on
the neural foramina.

At the C4-C5 level, a midline disc protrusion is seen indenting the
thecal sac and closely abutting the cord. There is no significant
spinal stenosis. Minor left-sided uncovertebral spurring is seen
encroaching on the left foramen. No right neural foraminal narrowing is
seen.

At the C5-C6 level, a broad disc bulge and osteophyte complex is seen
minimally indenting the thecal sac and mildly encroaching on the neural
foramina.

No significant disc abnormality is seen at the C6-C7 and C7-T1 levels.
The spinal canal and neural foramina are patent.


IMPRESSION:

1. Anterior spinal fusion at C6 and C7. No malalignment.

2. Low-grade degenerative changes seen in the mid cervical spine.