MRI Scan

Elias had an MRI of the brain and cervical spine yesterday. Neurology ordered the scan to repeat a seizure protocol and rule out Chiari malformation. This was another attempt to discover the cause of Elias apnea episodes. The doctors want to compare it to the last MRI which was done in September of 2009 two days after the first appearance of Elias episodes. Elias did well through the scan and recovered quickly from the anesthesia. There was, as always, concerns that Elias would have to be admitted due to the risk associated with his sedation. His risk is much greater than most because of his airway issues. We have not received a report on the reading of this MRI yet and not certain when we will. If we have not heard anything by Monday we will call. No news is probably good news in this case though.

We had hoped to get the Functional-MRI as well yesterday, but it was not in the orders. We are not sure if it was because of scheduling or the neurologist that the red light was put on for this. The FMRI is the research scan we mentioned in Elias’ last ENT update. It was disappointing, but as we said before it was all for curiosity and not diagnostic. Another opportunity may present itself in the future.