MR of the spine
Magnetic resonance (MR) is a non-invasive test for imaging the human body using a strong electromagnetic field along with interacting radio waves. Using MRI, the entire spine along with the spinal cord and surrounding soft tissues can be perfectly imaged.
What are the indications for an MR examination of the spine?
- spinal pain syndrome,
- degenerative changes,
- suspected proliferative lesions,
- Spina bifida or other birth defects,
- discopathies,
- demyelinating diseases,
- cancers,
- ankylosing spondylitis (AS),
- Pre- and post-operative follow-up,
- Condition after spinal injuries,
- spondyloarthropathy,
- Assessment of bone marrow lesions and many more….
What are the contraindications for a spinal MRI scan
- pacemaker,
- insulin pump,
- neurostimulators,
- cochlear implant,
- metallic orthopedic implants (made of ferromagnetic materials). If they are made of titanium, for example, the test can be performed,
- suspected metal foreign body.
Preparation for MR examination of the spine
The examination for spinal diagnosis does not require much preparation. However, attention should be paid to clothing. You should not wear clothes that contain metal parts, i.e. zippers, locks, etc. In the patient cabin, you can always change into comfortable clothes that do not contain the mentioned metal parts.
Also, be sure to bring with you all medical records pertaining to the area under study: hospital discharges, previous examinations, etc.