Mild linear high signal within the anterior cervical spinal cord ?
 

My latest MRI shows great improvement. MRIs taken a few days post op showed significant spinal cord swelling; this new one does not. I am able to understand the entire report with the exception of this phrase: mild linear high signal within the anterior cervical spinal cord.

A little background... I had a four-level cervical laminectomy in August. The next morning my arms were virtually paralyzed, and my hands were too but to a lesser extent. The surgeon felt I had had a spinal cord stroke; the other doctors felt my spinal cord had been so severely compressed that it had swollen upon being decompressed. I spent twenty-eight days in the hospital and made some improvement, gaining normal hand and near-normal wrist usage, but having significant deficits in my biceps and deltoids. I left the hospital with a score of 1/2 on a scale of 1 to 5 for my biceps and deltoids; I am now at 2 and 1/2 and continue to improve, albeit extremely slowly.

The surgeon read me the results of the MRI over the phone; he was enthusiastically positive. I was so overwhelmed by all the information that I did not ask about the high signal. I have since gotten a copy of the radiologist's report (and a CD of the MRI). Of course, I will ask him about the high signal during my next appointment, but in the meantime I am hoping someone can share their expertise with me.

My guess is that he's describing a mild high intensity zone that is linear in shape????

Look at the MRI and see if you see a light spot that is long and narrow.

I'm so glad to hear that you are regaining function! You may be surprised by how long you can continue to improve.

All the best,

Mark

Thanks, Mark, but what does it mean in terms of significance? In other words, is this a problem? Does it indicate permanent damage? Is it an indicator of a stroke?

I think a stroke is a vascular event. I'd be surprised to discover that the HIZ is related to a stroke. (But my opinion on this is not worth much!)

I don't know the significance.

Keep us posted.

Mark