use of CINE MRI / some info

October 18, 2001

<< My nsg said there was no problem with my flow and I

didn't have the CINE MRI. How does he know?

>>

a regular MRI view is all some neurosurgeons feel is necessary to evaluate

room for flow . CINE MRI is fairly new as software ...and not all

neurosurgeons are using it .

Whats unfortunate is things can look fairly good on regular MRI but CINE

still demonstrate problems ...this was the case with my herniation , for many

years about 5-7 mm , then a blow to the head , and things got worse .....it

was at 11 mm according to NIH by the time things got truly bad ...regular MRI

looked like my flow was perhaps ok ...CINE done twice showed my tonsils

becoming more and more pointed ....going down lower ...and showed both

turbulence and blocked /occluded flow .

You need to get to a neurosurgeon used to using CINE to evaluate flow , for

an accurate interpratation of the results ...you can find some articles in

medscape /neurosurgical focus in the last issue on acm 1 ( july or aug 2001 )

that speak about the use of CINE in evaluating csf flow ...when you get to

any of the asap medical board for consultation , they know the value of doing

CINE , and will frequently order it if they have any doubts .

I'd really recomend finding a neurosurgeon who does us it ....its very

valuable in doing good evaluation of how severe acm is ..and may well save

some folks from surgerys that are unneccesary too ( medications and lifestyle

adjust ments can go a long way toward improving things too ) .

There is a good explaination of how CINE works on the asap web pages ...

Unfortunatly , some of us develope internal scaring after surgery , that may

well occlude flow again ....so far there is no good treatment intervention

for this ...scaring can be removed , but if you have a tendancy to develope

it , it may also return ....they are still working on better options if this

is the case .

Not all neurosurgeons use CINE ...some reserve it for only when they feel

uncertian .

My MRI's at a year post op looked great ...but CINE study did show some

occlusion on one side ...it actually matches the sensation in my head on that

side feeling worse too . Somehow it helps to have both a solid evidence

explaination for how it feels ....and to know that there is enough flow

demonstrated to not fret nor look at more surgery . I feel reasured after

seeing it with my own eyes .

Hope that helps somehow ...let me know if I've confused you .

sarah in paradise

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