What is an MRI of the spine?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine is particularly suitable for visualizing the non-bony soft-tissue structures in the entire spinal area. These are first and foremost the intervertebral discs between the individual vertebral bodies, the spinal cord and the nerve roots arising therefrom. MRI is the method of choice in an examination for a slipped disc.
Of course, you can also use this procedure to assess the bone structure of the vertebrae, for example when examining for vertebral fractures. Here however, due to the better imaging of the bone structure, computed tomography often tends to be carried out.
How is an MRI of the spine performed and what needs to be considered?
The patient is moved into the tomograph in a supine position. No special preparation is necessary. If in addition to the question of a slipped disc, there is also the suspicion of the existence of pathological changes to the soft tissue or bony structures concerned, the administration of a contrast agent in an arm vein may be necessary. An MRI of the spine is one of the shorter examinations performed in the magnetic resonance imaging scanner. It usually takes between 10 and 20 minutes.
When is an MRI of the pelvis carried out?
Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis is a very accurate diagnostic procedure that is used today for numerous diseases and disorders. The examination is particularly suitable for the assessment of
- tumours in the pelvis area such as the urinary bladder carcinoma (bladder cancer), prostate carcinoma (prostate cancer) or gynaecological tumours such as the cervical carcinoma (cervical cancer), ovarian carcinoma (ovarian cancer)
- lymph nodes
- changes to the bony skeleton or surrounding muscles
- imaging of joints such as femoral head necrosis (destruction of the femoral head)
- traumatic (accident-related) changes to the pelvis, the ligaments or the musculature
- inflammatory changes such as abscesses in the pelvic area
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine is particularly suitable for visualizing the non-bony soft-tissue structures in the entire spinal area. It is the method of choice in an examination for a slipped disc.
An MRI of the pelvis is often used to assess changes to the skeleton, inflammatory and traumatic changes as well as tumours in the pelvic area.