Spinal cord compression MRI

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Ganti M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

MRI Spine

MRI is preferred diagnostic imaging for spinal cord compression.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]
Patients with positive history of any cancer presenting with low back pain should undergo MRI-enhanced imaging.
Epidural abscess is best detected by MRI.
FIndings include:
- Extradural spinal hematoma
- Abscess or tumor
- Disc rupture
- Spinal cord hemorrhage, contusion or edema.

Disc extrusion at C5-C6 with compression of the spinal cord, that shows hyperintense signal alterations on T2.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Magu S, Singh D, Yadav RK, Bala M (2015). “Evaluation of Traumatic Spine by Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Correlation with Neurological Recovery”. Asian Spine J. 9 (5): 748–56. doi:10.4184/asj.2015.9.5.748. PMC 4591447. PMID 26435794.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Coscia M, Leipzig T, Cooper D (1994). “Acute cauda equina syndrome. Diagnostic advantage of MRI”. Spine. 19 (4): 475–8. PMID 8178242.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Schmidt GP, Schoenberg SO, Reiser MF, Baur-Melnyk A (2005). “Whole-body MR imaging of bone marrow”. Eur J Radiol. 55 (1): 33–40. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2005.01.019. PMID 15950099.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Flanagan EP, Pittock SJ (2017). “Diagnosis and management of spinal cord emergencies”. Handb Clin Neurol. 140: 319–335. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-63600-3.00017-9. PMID 28187806.
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Parizel PM, van der Zijden T, Gaudino S, Spaepen M, Voormolen MH, Venstermans C, De Belder F, van den Hauwe L, Van Goethem J (2010). “Trauma of the spine and spinal cord: imaging strategies”. Eur Spine J. 19 Suppl 1: S8–17. doi:10.1007/s00586-009-1123-5. PMC 2899721. PMID 19727855.

Overview