Spine MRI
Alternate Names : Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Spine, MRI of the Spine, NMR - Spine, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance - Spine
Definition
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine is a noninvasive procedure that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to construct pictures of the vertebral bodies that make up the spine, the spinal cord, and the spaces between the vertebrae through which the nerves travel.
Unlike conventional radiography and CT imaging, which make use of ionizing radiation (X-rays) passing through a patient to generate images, MRI is based on the magnetic properties of atoms. A very small percentage of hydrogen atoms within the body will align with this field. When short radio wave pulses are broadcast toward the aligned hydrogen atoms in tissues of interest, they will return a signal of their own.
MRI scans differentiate between various organs, and potentially, provide contrast between benign and malignant tissue. Any imaging plane, or "slice," can be projected and then stored in a computer or printed on film. MRI can easily be performed through clothing and bones. However, certain types of metal in or around the area of interest can cause significant errors in the reconstructed images (artifact).
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Why is the Test Performed?
Spine MRI may show the exact location of tumors or other lesions of the spine, spinal cord, or intervertebral disks. It provides detailed pictures of hard-to-view areas of the spine, including the spinal canal, bony segments, and soft tissue. MRI is sometimes used to avoid the dangers of exposure to contrast dye or radiation.
Spine MRI may be performed in a trauma setting to rule out acute compression of the spinal cord in the setting of weakness or paralysis. MRI is also superior to CT in the evaluation of abscesses, tumors, or other masses near the spinal cord. While CT is better at detecting fractures of the vertebrae, MRI can detect subtle changes in the bone which may be due to infection or tumor.
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