Question 1

mri of thoracic spine without contrast what is on finding , nonspecific heterogenous bone marrow signal ? no pain and in shape should further work up be ordered with contrast or is this considered a normal phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

: My understanding is that this is a normal variant of no clinical significance. The radiologist can validate this advice for you or for the ordering physician.

Question 2

in 2016 i had anterior discectomy with fusion c7 to t1. for past few months my thoracic spine hurts so much. especially when i try to take a deep breath. spine feels unstable or something.  mri showed bone marrow edema in thoracic spine ?????

Accepted Answer

Your doctor: It is not feasible to provide a meaningful opinion without additional history, physical examination and may be some tests. Your issues are more complicated than can be addressed in this forum. It would be prudent to see your doctor who performed the surgery. 
Wish you good health!

Question 3

i had a lung lobectomy 2 yrs ago for stage 1a cancer. i have terrible chronic bone pain in my back and chest. i had a pet scan which says, "diffuse heterogeneous bone marrow fdg avidity, including slightly prominent uptake in t12, probably reactive?

Accepted Answer

: You have had a two year lease on life and should be regularly checked by you encological team to prepare for likely scenarios. The question are these "probably reactive?"  well yes.

Question 4

mri cervial spine report says altered bone marrow signal in cervical vertebral bodies. myeloma screen advised. is this cancer? no dr has explained. i am ao frightened?

Accepted Answer

: It is best to wait to worry because MRI changes in bones do not always indicate Cancer.
Once you have done the Myeloma screen send us the results and we can guide you further.
Do you have any neck pain...send us details about any symptoms in and around your neck/spine(Cervical) area).

Question 5

gastric cancer that has spread to bones i pelvis, spine and legs. very low blood count. transfusions not working due to bone marrow being affected.

Accepted Answer

It should help: Blood tansfusion should help. However, it will last only for a short period of time. It will be shorter time if you have active bleeding. You should get your  treatment started asap- off course, with the support of blood transfusion and growth support.  Eventually, when the cancer is in better controlled under treatment, your bone marrow hopefully would gradually hwork again.
Discuss with your md.

Question 6

i had anterior discectomy and fusion at c7 to t 1 because of cervical radiculopathy from a bone spur   how common is it for the bone spur to come back and larger after fusion.  now causing multiple disc bulges and marrow edema in thoracic spine too ?

Accepted Answer

Bone spurs : Bone spurs can develop after stress to the spine like wear and tear over time and as a reaction to spinal surgery.

Question 7

is leukopenia the symptom of bone marrow cancers like leukemia?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes: Leukopenia (low white blood cell count) can be a symptom of bone marrow cancers like leukemia or myelodysplasia.  There are many other less serious reasons to have low white blood cells too.

Question 8

what are my symptoms of having bone marrow cancer?

Accepted Answer

Many and variable: Please consult this site for usual symptoms of leukemia. There are other types of bone marrow cancers, e.g. P vera, multiple myeloma that are not addressed here.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/leukemia/basics/symptoms/CON-20024914

Question 9

dx chronic anemia.last bone marrow aspiration 4 yrs ago. have had erethropoetin output 1-4since then hgb generally 8.0-11.1 hct relative. feel hem/onc dr ignoring me should i get updated aspiration? many symptoms-chest pain,extreme exhaustion. epo output

Accepted Answer

Chronic anemia: The main reason to repeat the marrow biopsy would be if there was a change in your disease- more refractory, more wbc, lower plts, etc. If the underlying chronic disease cannot be treated or is unknown, then using EPO to treat and monitoring hgb is quite reasonable management. But it sounds like you may wish to have more explanation. Making and apmt to talk or ask questions is OK, or consult here.

Question 10

can bone marrow cancer cause death?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Mortality rates vary depending on the cell line, its response to therapy, and how wide spread it is when it is caught... But all of them can lead to death and debility.

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Doctor answers about:

SYMPTOMS OF THORACIC SPINE BONE MARROW CANCER

A member asked:

Mri of thoracic spine without contrast what is on finding , nonspecific heterogenous bone marrow signal ? no pain and in shape should further work up be ordered with contrast or is this considered a normal phenomenon?

A member asked:

In 2016 i had anterior discectomy with fusion c7 to t1. for past few months my thoracic spine hurts so much. especially when i try to take a deep breath. spine feels unstable or something. mri showed bone marrow edema in thoracic spine ?????

A member asked:

I had a lung lobectomy 2 yrs ago for stage 1a cancer. i have terrible chronic bone pain in my back and chest. i had a pet scan which says, "diffuse heterogeneous bone marrow fdg avidity, including slightly prominent uptake in t12, probably reactive?

A member asked:

Mri cervial spine report says altered bone marrow signal in cervical vertebral bodies. myeloma screen advised. is this cancer? no dr has explained. i am ao frightened?

A member asked:

Gastric cancer that has spread to bones i pelvis, spine and legs. very low blood count. transfusions not working due to bone marrow being affected.

A member asked:

I had anterior discectomy and fusion at c7 to t 1 because of cervical radiculopathy from a bone spur how common is it for the bone spur to come back and larger after fusion. now causing multiple disc bulges and marrow edema in thoracic spine too ?

A member asked:

Is leukopenia the symptom of bone marrow cancers like leukemia?

A member asked:

What are my symptoms of having bone marrow cancer?

A member asked:

Dx chronic anemia.last bone marrow aspiration 4 yrs ago. have had erethropoetin output 1-4since then hgb generally 8.0-11.1 hct relative. feel hem/onc dr ignoring me should i get updated aspiration? many symptoms-chest pain,extreme exhaustion. epo output

A member asked:

Can bone marrow cancer cause death?

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