title: Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine.
abstract: Historically, magnetic resonance imaging has offered poor specificity in the diagnosis of back pain. Researchers currently are engaged in developing new techniques, and clinicians are successfully utilizing existing technologies (ie, diffusion-weighted imaging) that previously were not used to evaluate the spine. Magnetic resonance imaging may be used in several spinal applications: intervertebral disk and facet joint degeneration, spinal canal stenosis, suspected diskitis or osteomyelitis, suspected spinal column neoplasia, vascular disorders, trauma, and demyelinating disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cousins
authors.forename: Victor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Haughton
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media