Magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord and canal: potentials and limitations

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.141.6.1147· OSTI ID:5012649

Norman, D; Mills, C M; Brant-Zawadzki, M; Yeates, A; Crooks, L E; Kaufman, L

Preliminary experience with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spinal cord and canal in 17 patients indicates considerable promise in the diagnosis of neoplastic, degenerative, and congenital lesions. The ability to image the cord directly rather than indirectly as in myelography, the absence of bone artifact as in computed tomography, and the multiplanar capabilities indicate that MRI will be the procedure of choice in the examination of the spinal cord. Current limitations include partial-volume effects due to slice thickness and the inability to perform contiguous sections when using multiplanar techniques. The relative increase in signal from cerebrospinal fluid with long TR and TE sequences in spin-echo imaging may result in less sensitivity than in the brain for detection of cord edema and/or infarction.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California School of Medicine, San Francisco
• OSTI ID: 5012649
• Journal Information: AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States), Journal Name: AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States) Vol. 141:6; ISSN AAJRD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DIAGNOSIS
DISEASES
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RESONANCE
SKELETON
SPIN ECHO
SPINAL CORD
VERTEBRAE