Radiology, Vol 148, 757-762, Copyright © 1983 by Radiological Society of North America
Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the spine
MT Modic, MA Weinstein, W Pavlicek, DL Starnes, PM Duchesneau, F Boumphrey and RJ Hardy Jr
Forty subjects were examined to determine the accuracy and clinical
usefulness of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) examination of the spine.
The NMR images were compared with plain radiographs, high- resolution
computed tomograms, and myelograms. The study included 15 patients with
normal spinal cord anatomy and 25 patients whose pathological conditions
included canal stenosis, herniated discs, metastatic tumors, primary cord
tumor, trauma, Chiari malformations, syringomyelia, and developmental
disorders. Saturation recovery images were best in differentiating between
soft tissue and cerebrospinal fluid. NMR was excellent for the evaluation
of the foramen magnum region and is presently the modality of choice for
the diagnosis of syringomyelia and Chiari malformation. NMR was accurate in
diagnosing spinal cord trauma and spinal canal block. The normal disc was
seen, but with rare exceptions bulging of the annulus and herniation of the
nucleus pulposus were not visualized.
