Making Progress- Hyperintensity or Lesion on MRI?

[AJB]

Hello there, I have posted before in this forum, just checking in to ask a question.

Today was my follow up with my neurologist. We went over all my MRI's and other tests. My Brain, Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar spine MRI's were normal except this was on the report for my Cervical Spine MRI-
" No compelling evidence for cord signal abnormality. However, given history, on sagittal STIR image 7 there is a region of hyperintensity within the ventral cord at the C1/2 level. "
My neurologist did not mention this to me, but I read it on my report afterwards. I'm not sure why it wasn't brought up. I did receive both an open and closed MRI and possibly he did not read the results of the closed neck MRI.

What does hyperintensity mean? Does it mean lesion, or the beginning of one? Does anyone know what hyperintensity in the neck may signify? Also, why would my neurologist fail to mention this to me?

Thanks so much in advance!

[lyndacarol]

Sorry, AJB, I cannot help you. I hope others here have the knowledge to answer your question.

[NHE]

What does hyperintensity mean? Does it mean lesion, or the beginning of one? Does anyone know what hyperintensity in the neck may signify? Also, why would my neurologist fail to mention this to me?

Here is a page that describes some of the vocabulary used to discuss MRI.
https://sites.google.com/a/wisc.edu/neu ... erminology

However, keep in mind that a radiologist writes the initial report and this is subsequently interpreted by the neurologist. In general, a hyperintensity could have various meanings and that's where the interpretation comes into play.