Can a patient with moderate-to-severe cervical spondylosis and radiculopathy, congenital cervical canal narrowing (anteroposterior diameter ≈8 mm) due to short pedicles, develop cervical myelopathy despite a normal MRI without intramedullary T2 signal change?

Risk of Progression to Myelopathy in Severe Cervical Stenosis Without Signal Change

Yes, a patient with moderate-to-severe cervical spondylosis, radiculopathy, and congenital canal narrowing (AP diameter 8mm) can absolutely progress to cervical myelopathy even without current T2 signal changes on MRI. The absence of intramedullary signal abnormality does not preclude future development of myelopathy, as signal changes represent advanced pathological changes rather than early compression effects.

Critical Risk Factors Present

Your patient has multiple high-risk features for myelopathy development:

• Severe congenital stenosis: An AP diameter of 8mm represents significant canal narrowing, as congenital stenosis (defined by Pavlov ratio <0.8) creates a vulnerable substrate for cord injury 1
• Short pedicles: This anatomical variant accentuates compression at affected levels and is specifically recognized as a cause of extrinsic cord compression 1, 2
• Existing spondylotic changes: Degenerative disease is the most common cause of extrinsic compression leading to myelopathy, particularly in the cervical spine 2
• Already symptomatic: The presence of radiculopathy indicates that neural compression is already clinically significant 3

Why Absence of Signal Change Doesn't Protect Against Progression

MRI signal changes are prognostic indicators, not prerequisites for myelopathy development 1, 2. The pathophysiological cascade proceeds as follows:

• Initial mechanical deformation occurs from compression before signal changes appear 2
• T2 hyperintensity represents advanced pathological changes including edema, demyelination, and gliosis 2
• Intramedullary signal changes serve as prognostic factors for surgical outcomes but develop after compression is established 1, 4
• Diffusion-weighted imaging can detect cord injury earlier than T2-weighted sequences, suggesting a temporal progression of detectable changes 1, 4

Natural History Evidence

The natural history literature demonstrates unpredictable progression patterns:

• Cervical spondylotic myelopathy often develops in patients with congenitally narrow canals when degenerative changes are superimposed 3
• Compression severity (measured by compression ratios) did not correlate with the rate of CSM development in prospective studies 1
• The clinical course is highly variable—symptoms may remain stable, progress gradually, or deteriorate rapidly 1, 5
• Approximately 20-45% of conservatively managed patients with early symptoms experienced deterioration over follow-up periods 1

Clinical Monitoring Strategy

Given the high-risk anatomy, close clinical surveillance is mandatory:

• Assess for early myelopathic signs including bilateral upper extremity weakness patterns, hyperreflexia, pathologic reflexes (Hoffman's, Babinski), gait disturbance with spasticity or ataxia, and sensory level establishment 4
• Recognize that gait disturbance and falls are common presenting features in elderly patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy 5
• Do not wait for signal changes to appear before considering intervention if clinical myelopathy develops 2, 4

Surgical Considerations

If myelopathy develops, surgical decompression becomes the mainstay of treatment:

• Decompression with fusion is recommended to prevent instability and kyphotic deformity 2
• Laminectomy alone carries higher reoperation risk due to restenosis and postoperative kyphosis 2
• Surgery should be recommended to arrest progression when myelopathic symptoms appear in patients with satisfactory general condition 5
• Intramedullary signal changes predict surgical outcomes—T2-only changes indicate better prognosis than combined T1/T2 changes 4

Common Pitfall to Avoid

Do not assume that absence of cord signal abnormality means low risk for myelopathy progression. The combination of severe congenital stenosis (8mm AP diameter), short pedicles, and moderate-to-severe spondylotic changes creates a mechanically compromised cord that remains vulnerable to progressive injury from minor additional compression, dynamic factors during neck movement, or vascular compromise 2, 3. The patient requires ongoing clinical monitoring for myelopathic signs regardless of current MRI signal characteristics.