title: Imaging of the spine. Techniques of MR imaging.
abstract: Recently, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has become the preferred method of evaluation for spinal disorders. The vertebrae, intervertebral disks, ligaments, spinal canal, and neural foramen may all be evaluated using current MR imaging techniques. MR imaging with paramagnetic contrast has developed into a valuable technique for diagnosing a tumor, an infection, or a degenerative disease. Computed tomography remains the procedure of choice for examining fine cortical bone detail including evaluation of spine fractures and assessing neural foraminal size, but it is not sensitive for detecting marrow-infiltrating disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Czervionke
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Berquist
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010001:Osteitis Deformans / Q000175:diagnosis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed