Low-field MR imaging (0.1 T) in patients with clinically suspected acute spinal block.
The diagnostic usefulness of a 0.1 T MR unit in patients with clinical suspicion of acute spinal block was studied in 59 patients who were referred to acute MR investigation. The records were reviewed retrospectively 1 month after the MR for assessing the clinical impact of the examination. Ninety-eight per cent had a true-positive examination confirmed by surgery (21%) or observation (77%). In 60% of the patients the MR imaging had a therapeutic consequence. In only one patient did the level of visualised pathology at the MR examination not correlate with the clinical findings; the patient subsequently refused surgical treatment. We conclude that a low-field MR unit is excellent for acute examination of patients clinically suspected of acute spinal block.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
U
U
Heldmann
H S
HS
Thomsen
T
T
Mygind
D000208:Acute Disease; D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; C064925:gadodiamide; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA