Spine MRI

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

MRI scans

Skeletal spine

Vertebra, lumbar (low back)

Vertebra, thoracic (mid back)

Posterior spinal anatomy

Overview

Risks

Results

Spine MRI

Definition:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine is a noninvasive procedure that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the components that make up the spine -- the vertabrae (spine bones), the spinal cord, and the spaces between the vertebrae through which the nerves travel.

Unlike conventional radiography and CT imaging, which uses radiation (X-rays) passing through a patient to generate images, MRI is based on the magnetic properties of atoms.

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MRI scans differentiate between organs, and potentially, provide contrast between benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) tissue. Any of the images collected can be stored in a computer or printed on film. MRI can easily be performed through clothing and bones. Certain types of metal, however, in or around the area under investigation can cause significant errors, called artifacts, in the images.

Alternative Names:
Magnetic resonance imaging - spine; Nuclear magnetic resonance - spine; MRI of the spine; NMR - spine
How the test is performed:

Since MRI makes use of radio waves very close in frequency to those of ordinary FM radio stations, the scanner must be located within a specially shielded room to avoid outside interference. The patient will be asked to lie on a narrow table which slides into a large tunnel-like tube within the scanner.

Sometimes an IV is placed in the patient's hand or forearm, to allow contrast medium to be given. A technologist will operate the machine and observe you during the entire study from an adjacent room.

Several sets of images are usually required, each taking from 2-15 minutes. A complete scan may take up to 1 hour. Newer scanners may complete the process in less time.

How to prepare for the test:

Because the strong magnetic fields can displace or disrupt the action of implanted metallic objects, people with the following should not be scanned:

Cardiac pacemakers. People with implanted pacemakers should not enter the MRI area.
Inner ear (cochlear) implants
Brain aneurysm clips
Certain artificial heart valves
Older vascular stents
Recently placed artificial joints

Sheet metal workers, or persons with similar potential exposure to small metal fragments, will first be screened for metal shards within the eyes with X-rays of the skull.