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Diagnosed With Chilari Malformation. Is It Possible To Miss A Tethered Spinal Cord In MRI?
Is it possible to miss a tethered spinal cord in X-ray and MRI? I m nineteen and diagnosed with Chiari malformation and will have surgery next week. When I got my scans done there was no mention that my spinal fluid is being blocked or that my brain and brain stem are shifted, which were evident after a second look. The more I look into it some of my past and present symptoms seem like they could be attributed to tethered cord. What is the likelihood that it was missed and are there risks to go untreated? Thank you!
Fri, 15 Mar 2013
With the given information, I presume The MRI was done for Brain and not for lower spine.
The Diagnosis of Chiari malformation is made only when shift of brain stem is seen-
Therefore the diagnosis of Chiari Malformation is sufficient to tell that your brain stem is shifted.
The tethered Cord is diagnosis which can only be told after doing MRI for lower spine.
On cannot tell on Brain MRI about Tethered Cord.
Please get your whole spine MRI if your treating Doctor is concerned about tethered Cord.
The Diagnosis of Chiari malformation is made only when shift of brain stem is seen-
Therefore the diagnosis of Chiari Malformation is sufficient to tell that your brain stem is shifted.
The tethered Cord is diagnosis which can only be told after doing MRI for lower spine.
On cannot tell on Brain MRI about Tethered Cord.
Please get your whole spine MRI if your treating Doctor is concerned about tethered Cord.
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