Guest guest Posted May 12, 2004 Report Share Posted May 12, 2004 It is true that an MRI will always show a Tether, because technically there is one...........and you won't be able to tell if it is new, old, or how tight it is. BUT, it is still wise to have Follow-Up MRI's, they still serve a purpose, such as, if something else new came up. So, if I were you, I would still insist on the MRI. Good luck. Me Nebraska, USA mymocha@... The surgeon said a follow up mri wouldn't be helpful because it would appear that the cord has re-tethered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2004 Report Share Posted May 13, 2004 Hi Brande and all, I haven't posted in a while, but this caught my eye. Your saying that an MRI will always show a tether interests me very much. I hope you would not mind explaining this further to me since this very subject is the focal point in our lives right now. Our daughter, Houston, is two and a half and has had three MRI's since December. She has been diagnosed with Syringomyelia from T9-L1. Since then we have sent her films to various well regarded pedi neurosurgeons in hopes of finding out what caused the syrinx and if we are missing any other pertinent information. 1 of the 4 we sent to says she absolutely is tethered from a thickened filum even though the conus ends at L1and we must schedule surgery. The 3 others say they can't tell that it is thickened but can't say for sure. Obviously, we are not even considering surgery yet as her symptoms are very mild and her urodynamic test was fine. Please anyone that might have some thoughts on this, write back. Thanks so much, you are all terrific people and I have been comforted by your sharing. Re: new here - about Evan! It is true that an MRI will always show a Tether, because technically there is one...........and you won't be able to tell if it is new, old, or how tight it is. BUT, it is still wise to have Follow-Up MRI's, they still serve a purpose, such as, if something else new came up. So, if I were you, I would still insist on the MRI. Good luck. Me Nebraska, USA mymocha@... The surgeon said a follow up mri wouldn't be helpful because it would appear that the cord has re-tethered. Not Medical Advice. We Are Not Doctors. Need help with the list? Email kathy@...,michelle@..., rick@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2004 Report Share Posted May 13, 2004 Well, I'll try............but if somebody else is able to explain it better, please Chime in. It is pretty common to hear that an MRI isn't a conclusive diagnostic Tool after a Detethering is done, when you are suspecting a Retethering. Reason being, because it will always look Tethered. Because of the Scar Tissue........the MRI cannot defernicate (SP?). It will not give you a conclusive Diagnosis. They will often lean more to the Symptoms or other Tests to decide if a Retether is the issue. But often, the MRI is still ordered...........in my opinion, it is still an important thing to do. I have also heard of a few who had clear MRI's after a Detethering........a couple of those few, had Symptoms, so they went in and found out they were actually Tethered. I'm not saying you should jump into Surgery for your Child though. But generally it is the opposite, the MRI will look Tethered, because technically it is. Well, I hope I explained it better. Me Nebraska, USA mymocha@... Your saying that an > MRI will always show a tether interests me very much. I hope you would not > mind explaining this further to me since this very subject is the focal > point in our lives right now. Our daughter, Houston, is two and a half and > has had three MRI's since December. She has been diagnosed with > Syringomyelia from T9-L1. Since then we have sent her films to various well > regarded pedi neurosurgeons in hopes of finding out what caused the syrinx > and if we are missing any other pertinent information. 1 of the 4 we sent > to says she absolutely is tethered from a thickened filum even though the > conus ends at L1and we must schedule surgery. The 3 others say they can't > tell that it is thickened but can't say for sure. Obviously, we are not > even considering surgery yet as her symptoms are very mild and her > urodynamic test was fine. Please anyone that might have some thoughts on > this, write back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2004 Report Share Posted May 13, 2004 I had two MRI's, one with contrast, one without. Both were inconclusive as far as tethered cord, HOWEVER, they both showed the cord lower than normal, extending down to L4 instead of normal T-11-12/L1 area. A follow-up Myelogram confirmed the tethering. Rick At 10:37 PM 5/12/2004 -0500, wrote: >Hi Brande and all, >I haven't posted in a while, but this caught my eye. Your saying that an >MRI will always show a tether interests me very much. I hope you would not >mind explaining this further to me since this very subject is the focal >point in our lives right now. Our daughter, Houston, is two and a half and >has had three MRI's since December. She has been diagnosed with >Syringomyelia from T9-L1. Since then we have sent her films to various well >regarded pedi neurosurgeons in hopes of finding out what caused the syrinx >and if we are missing any other pertinent information. 1 of the 4 we sent >to says she absolutely is tethered from a thickened filum even though the >conus ends at L1and we must schedule surgery. The 3 others say they can't >tell that it is thickened but can't say for sure. Obviously, we are not >even considering surgery yet as her symptoms are very mild and her >urodynamic test was fine. Please anyone that might have some thoughts on >this, write back. >Thanks so much, you are all terrific people and I have been comforted by >your sharing. > > Re: new here - about Evan! > > > It is true that an MRI will always show a Tether, because technically >there > is one...........and you won't be able to tell if it is new, old, or how > tight it is. BUT, it is still wise to have Follow-Up MRI's, they still >serve > a purpose, such as, if something else new came up. So, if I were you, I > would still insist on the MRI. > > Good luck. > > Me > Nebraska, USA > mymocha@... > > The surgeon said a follow up mri wouldn't be helpful because it would > appear that the cord has re-tethered. > > > > > Not Medical Advice. We Are Not Doctors. > Need help with the list? Email >kathy@...,michelle@..., rick@... > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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