Find out more!
MRI of the Spine
What is the purpose of an MRI?
Diseases of the spine that do not clearly involve bony elements - such as intervertebral discs, surgical scar tissue, tumors, bone marrow, abnormalities occurring near the spinal column - may be examined with great precision with the MRI. It is also an excellent tool in surgical planning (when a CT scan is not sufficient). The MRI is not often adequate in cases of scoliosis since it is not suitable for imaging curved planes.
Required preparation
Generally, no special preparation is required prior to the procedure. Contrast material is only given in special indications.
What does an examination entail?
The Patient is placed within the scanner in the supine position following which images are prepared of the affected spinal segments in three planes and various sequences. The examination lasts about 34-35 min., is not painful. The patient must remain completely motionless during the entire time in order for the images to be evaluated. Contrast material may need to be administered in rare cases only. A consent agreement signed by the patient is required beforehand.What are the contraindications?
Claustrophobia (our equipment is open, thus, lessening the claustrophobic effect on our Patients), size and weight, metal implants that make imaging impossible or cause damage to the Patient (tooth fillings aside) and pacemakers.
Should a Patient be allergic to the contrast material, the examination will be done without it.
The patient will be given a written report of the results and the images on a CD.
