Imaging of the spine - Techniques of MR imaging

Imaging of the spine has traditionally been accomplished with plain radiography, myelography, CT, and radionuclide bone scanning. Recently, MR imaging has become the procedure of choice for the evaluation of 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 is a valuable technique for diagnosing tumor, infection, and degenerative disease. CT remains the procedure of choice for examining fine cortical bone detail, including the evaluation of spinal fractures and the assessment of neural foraminal size, but it is not sensitive for detecting marrow-infiltrating disorders. This article focuses on MR imaging techniques used to evaluate common disorders of the spine, including degenerative disease, tumors, myeloproliferative disorders, and Paget's disease.