PMC2927841_01
(Left) Sagittal view of the stainless steel wire (arrows) with the Harrington rod (arrowheads) running posteriorly to it. (Right) Coronal view of the spinal cord where the steel wire at T10-11 is seen (arrow). Arrowheads show the Harrington Rod.
nihms146220f2.jpg
PMC2927841_01_nihms146220f2.jpg
F2
She had avoided MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) because the stainless steel loop (Fig. 2) within her spinal cord was confirmed to be ferromagnetic, thereby causing concern that MRI scanning might result in movement or heating of the wire loop within the spinal cord and produce further neurological dysfunction.
Upper and Lower Left: CT cuts at the T10-T11 level. A single Harrington rod (arrowheads) rests on a dorsal fusion mass. Metal wire (arrow) extends between the spinal cord and dura. Upper and Lower Center: CT Post-Myelogram, Axial Images. The metal wire (arrow) is again seen through the subarachnoid space and into the cord. The Harrington rod is represented by arrowheads. Right: Sagittal view of CT myelogram showing 2 mm of tonsillar ectopia and normal diameter of the cervical spinal cord.
nihms146220f3.jpg
PMC2927841_01_nihms146220f3.jpg
F3
Her latest radiographic evaluation consisted of a CT-myelogram that was performed with Isovue (Iopamidol, Bracco Diagnostics, Inc., Princeton, NJ) one year ago (Fig. 3). The spinal cord diameter was normal on this study suggesting that the syrinx was absent or collapsed (Fig. 3). Neither the metal loop nor the previous Pantopaque myelogram appeared to have resulted in adhesions or other changes in the subarachnoid space (Fig. 3).