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What Does "sclerotic Changes" Mean As Per The Following CT Scan Report?
Question: What does sclerotic changes mean?
What exactly sclerotic changes seen ! It is cancer ?
Narrative
LOCATION: SHRB
MR LUMBAR SPINE WO and W CONTRAST (MR-37) MR-37
Impression
IMPRESSION:
1. Mild degenerative changes within the lower thoracic spine and at
L5-S1 without significant spinal canal stenosis or neural foraminal
narrowing.
2. No MRI findings to suggest infection at this time.
INDICATION: Back Pain
TECHNIQUE: Parasagittal and axial T2-weighted images were acquired.
Parasagittal and axial T1-weighted images were acquired pre and post
intravenous administration of paramagnetic contrast material.
CONTRAST: 15 of 15 ml Magnevist
COMPARISON: CT abdomen pelvis from 12/17/2014
FINDINGS:
There are five non-rib bearing lumbar vertebra.
The alignment of lumbar spine is within normal limits.
The conus medullaris terminates at L1. No abnormal signal within the
lower thoracic cord or conus medullaris. No morphological
abnormalities of the lumbosacral nerve roots. No abnormal
enhancement within the lumbosacral thecal sac.
There are multiple Schmorl's nodes throughout the lower thoracic and
upper lumbar spine. Sclerotic changes are seen at the anterior
inferior endplate of L1, which appear to be associated with a small
endplate defect.
No paraspinal phlegmon or fluid collections. No abnormalities of the
paraspinal muscles.
No abnormal T2 signal within the disc spaces. No masslike areas of
abnormal marrow signal intensity.
No evidence of epidural fluid collection.
The included retroperitoneal and pelvic contents are within normal
limits.
Findings by Level:
T12-L1: Small circumferential bulge without significant spinal canal
stenosis or neural foraminal narrowing.
L1-L2: Unremarkable
L2-L3: Unremarkable
L3-L4: Unremarkable
L4-L5: Unremarkable
L5-S1: Loss internal disc signal with small central annular fissure
and protrusion. No impingement of the transiting nerve roots or
significant spinal canal stenosis. No significant neural foraminal
narrowing.
What exactly sclerotic changes seen ! It is cancer ?
Narrative
LOCATION: SHRB
MR LUMBAR SPINE WO and W CONTRAST (MR-37) MR-37
Impression
IMPRESSION:
1. Mild degenerative changes within the lower thoracic spine and at
L5-S1 without significant spinal canal stenosis or neural foraminal
narrowing.
2. No MRI findings to suggest infection at this time.
INDICATION: Back Pain
TECHNIQUE: Parasagittal and axial T2-weighted images were acquired.
Parasagittal and axial T1-weighted images were acquired pre and post
intravenous administration of paramagnetic contrast material.
CONTRAST: 15 of 15 ml Magnevist
COMPARISON: CT abdomen pelvis from 12/17/2014
FINDINGS:
There are five non-rib bearing lumbar vertebra.
The alignment of lumbar spine is within normal limits.
The conus medullaris terminates at L1. No abnormal signal within the
lower thoracic cord or conus medullaris. No morphological
abnormalities of the lumbosacral nerve roots. No abnormal
enhancement within the lumbosacral thecal sac.
There are multiple Schmorl's nodes throughout the lower thoracic and
upper lumbar spine. Sclerotic changes are seen at the anterior
inferior endplate of L1, which appear to be associated with a small
endplate defect.
No paraspinal phlegmon or fluid collections. No abnormalities of the
paraspinal muscles.
No abnormal T2 signal within the disc spaces. No masslike areas of
abnormal marrow signal intensity.
No evidence of epidural fluid collection.
The included retroperitoneal and pelvic contents are within normal
limits.
Findings by Level:
T12-L1: Small circumferential bulge without significant spinal canal
stenosis or neural foraminal narrowing.
L1-L2: Unremarkable
L2-L3: Unremarkable
L3-L4: Unremarkable
L4-L5: Unremarkable
L5-S1: Loss internal disc signal with small central annular fissure
and protrusion. No impingement of the transiting nerve roots or
significant spinal canal stenosis. No significant neural foraminal
narrowing.
Brief Answer:
sclerotic is not cancer, it is scarring
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question. I have studied your report and will interpret it for you. On the CT scan they saw Schmorls nodes in the thoracic and lumbar spine. These are areas where the gel inside the discs protrudes through into the endplates. The endplates are the cartilage coverings of the upper and lower parts of the vertebral bodies. Schmorls nodes are found commonly and usually are not a cause of pain. Sclerotic changes in the endplate and end plate defects are from wear and tear and sclerosis just means scarring down. At the L5-S1 level there is some disc protrusion but it is not pressing on a nerve (no foraminal narrowing) or the spinal cord (no spinal stenosis). The MRI really just confirms the CT findings that there is some degenerative (wear and tear) change but no nerve impingement. I hope this is helpful. I see nothing here that indicates cancer.
sclerotic is not cancer, it is scarring
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question. I have studied your report and will interpret it for you. On the CT scan they saw Schmorls nodes in the thoracic and lumbar spine. These are areas where the gel inside the discs protrudes through into the endplates. The endplates are the cartilage coverings of the upper and lower parts of the vertebral bodies. Schmorls nodes are found commonly and usually are not a cause of pain. Sclerotic changes in the endplate and end plate defects are from wear and tear and sclerosis just means scarring down. At the L5-S1 level there is some disc protrusion but it is not pressing on a nerve (no foraminal narrowing) or the spinal cord (no spinal stenosis). The MRI really just confirms the CT findings that there is some degenerative (wear and tear) change but no nerve impingement. I hope this is helpful. I see nothing here that indicates cancer.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
I thought sclerotic changes r when there is cancer present ? I read everywhere trying to get answers all I see sclerotic lesion which could be from cancer ! Done says could be from treatment from chemo thts why it becomes harderned
Brief Answer:
really just scarring
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for your follow up.
Sclerosis does just mean hardening. You can see this type of scarring and hardening of tissues with chemo and radiation treatments. More often it is seen on the ends of bones where arthritis causes a scarring down or hardening of the connective tissues. Many patients get sclerosis of the long bones of the leg around the knee when they have arthritis. The kind of sclerosis around the vertebral bodies that you have is really from wear and tear and a hardening of the collagen over the endplates. The CT scan that you had showed
"No abnormal T2 signal within the disc spaces. No masslike areas of abnormal marrow signal intensity."
This means that they did not see anything on the scan that looked like cancer. The MRI is even more sensitive at looking for cancer and it did not show anything that looked like cancer either.
really just scarring
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for your follow up.
Sclerosis does just mean hardening. You can see this type of scarring and hardening of tissues with chemo and radiation treatments. More often it is seen on the ends of bones where arthritis causes a scarring down or hardening of the connective tissues. Many patients get sclerosis of the long bones of the leg around the knee when they have arthritis. The kind of sclerosis around the vertebral bodies that you have is really from wear and tear and a hardening of the collagen over the endplates. The CT scan that you had showed
"No abnormal T2 signal within the disc spaces. No masslike areas of abnormal marrow signal intensity."
This means that they did not see anything on the scan that looked like cancer. The MRI is even more sensitive at looking for cancer and it did not show anything that looked like cancer either.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
It was mri of the spine that showed the sclerotic changes ! Do I have to get ct too or mri that had showed is enough evidence of my spine ?
Brief Answer:
Sorry
Detailed Answer:
hello and thanks for the follow up
There is a line in the report that says
COMPARISON: CT abdomen pelvis from 12/17/2014
so I thought the report below that was from the CT and the report above was from the MRI. In any case the finding are clear, no evidence of cancer
Good health to you
Sorry
Detailed Answer:
hello and thanks for the follow up
There is a line in the report that says
COMPARISON: CT abdomen pelvis from 12/17/2014
so I thought the report below that was from the CT and the report above was from the MRI. In any case the finding are clear, no evidence of cancer
Good health to you
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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