Hyperintensity of MRI T2 signal of the spinal cord

What it means

A region of high intensity (brightness) observed upon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the spinal cord.

Seen in a wide-ranging variety of spinal cord processes including; simple MR artifacts, congenital anomalies etc. Characterization of the abnormal areas of T2 signal as well as their appearance on other MR imaging sequences, when combined with clinical context and laboratory investigations, will often allow a unique diagnosis, or at least aid in narrowing the differential diagnosis. {xref="PMID:19527360"}

Rare diseases that can present with this3

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions, and Orphanet separately records 1 disease where this sign is specifically absent. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category