MRI help!

C

chd guy

New member
Hi,
I have recently been experiencing symptoms including tingling in legs and arms, aching pain in my legs, and pain in one arm. I also have a shooting pain down my back when I bend my neck.
I recently had an MRI to look for MS lesions, which came back OK, except for an altered intramedullary signal at C2.
I was then sent back for an MRI to investigate this area, which was ordered without contrast. During the scan, the technician came in to tell me they were discussing with the radiologist whether or not to inject some contrast. After taking more pictures without, they went ahead with the contrast injection.
What is the reason for this injection if it wasn't initially ordered? And would a radiologist ever use contrast if the non-contrast scan was normal, just to make sure everything was clear?
Thanks!
 
An MRI can be tough to read or interpret, and sometimes important areas are hidden behind other parts of the body. Contrast can make it easier to see, especially the soft tissues.

I'm glad they went to the trouble of making sure they had an accurate image. What exactly they saw, you'd need the report for that.
 
jane is right as to the reasons for the usage of a contrasting agent, if the got a higher intensity at that area, they just wanted to look a bit deeper there to try to identify just what was causing the higher signal, that, in some cases, can be done with contrast. sometimes it helps but with certain other findings,it wont, but it should be tried.

did they tell you anything else about that C2 area as to what was possibly there? intramedullary means 'inside the cord area" just so you know. given your ongoing symptoms,there could be something like what i had in mine,a cavernous hemangioma,or any number of other possiblities too. but like jane mentioned above,you DO need to see that report to know whats up. 'something' is causing those very pronounced symptoms you are having. what you are experencing would not, from what i know of actual MS lesions, be causing those specific types of symptoms you have going on.

have you consulted with any specialist like a neurosurgeon to get an eval and consult on what was found upon the MRI being done? you just DO need to find out what showed up in that report. has anyone actually told you anything about itat this point? FB
 
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