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What Does The Following MRI Report Suggest?
My boyfriend has recently discovered his back is not well. So the Dr. did a MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast. The findings are, Lumbar alignment is intact, Cerebral alignment is intact, Vertebral body heights are preserved. No acute compression deformities are present. There is diffuse marrow heterogeneity. There is much more.. But my question and concern is..what is diffuse marrow heterogeneity?? Is it possible there may be cancer in the marrow, ? Not knowing what the definition I looked on line and briefly read what I saw that s how I came up with possible cancer,. Thank you for your time I am hoping to get some kind of understanding to diffuse marrow heterogeneity.
posted on
Tue, 11 Apr 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 5 May 2017
Answered on
Fri, 5 May 2017
Last reviewed on
Hello and welcome to HCM,
I see that you are concerned about your boyfriend.
The finding of "diffuse marrow heterogeneity" is a significant finding which should be followed up.
There is a variety of conditions which can cause this kind of a change in the bone marrow signal.
Some studies show that about 25% of patients whose MRIs, done for other reasons, show abnormal or heterogeneous bone marrow signal develop some kind of malignancy/cancer in the future, and in that you were correct in your online findings.
Your boyfriend's doctor should be doing further testing and informing/educating you according to the findings. A referral to an oncologist - a cancer specialist may be required.
I hope you find my answer helpful.
Regards and wishing your boyfriend best of health.
I see that you are concerned about your boyfriend.
The finding of "diffuse marrow heterogeneity" is a significant finding which should be followed up.
There is a variety of conditions which can cause this kind of a change in the bone marrow signal.
Some studies show that about 25% of patients whose MRIs, done for other reasons, show abnormal or heterogeneous bone marrow signal develop some kind of malignancy/cancer in the future, and in that you were correct in your online findings.
Your boyfriend's doctor should be doing further testing and informing/educating you according to the findings. A referral to an oncologist - a cancer specialist may be required.
I hope you find my answer helpful.
Regards and wishing your boyfriend best of health.
I find this answer helpful
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