Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine is a method for studying soft tissues and vertebrae, based on the ability to record changes in their own magnetic fields, which change in various pathologies.
Since all tissues contain hydrogen, the behavior of the atoms of this element is studied. During MRI, the patient is exposed to the external magnetic field of the machine, as a result of which hydrogen atoms briefly adjust their magnetic moment to it. After the scanner is turned off, they return to their original state, releasing energy. This process is captured by special devices and recorded as a digital image.
What is spinal tomography?
Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine is a high-tech method for diagnosing back pathologies. The operating principle of the tomograph is based on the effect of nuclear magnetic resonance. The scanning device itself consists of an installation that creates a powerful magnetic field and radio frequency signal detectors. When a patient gets inside the scanning part of the device, under the influence of a strong magnetic field and RF signals, the hydrogen atoms in the body's cells begin to resonate, that is, make oscillatory movements. The tomograph's computer translates these impulses into three-dimensional images, which the radiologist sees on the monitor screen.
What will an MRI of the spine show?
Deciphering the tomography of the spine will allow:
- Assess the condition and anatomy of vertebral structures.
- Identify congenital anomalies and pathologies.
- Diagnose degenerative diseases of the spine.
- Assess the level of compression of nerves and spinal cord.
- Determine the presence of neoplasms and infections.
- Detect inflammatory processes, damage to blood vessels and spinal membranes.
- Identify areas of injury, as well as changes that occurred after surgery or medical intervention.
What does the spine look like on MRI images?
Survey results
The resulting images clearly show:
- The shape of the vertebrae and their sizes;
- The quality of signals from the bone marrow;
- Features of the spinal canal, its diameter, the presence of stenosis (narrowing) and its location;
- Hernia-type protrusions, their direction;
- The condition of the ligaments in the lumbar region, the presence of ruptures and other damage;
- Disturbed curves of the spinal column;
- Neoplasms, their type, location;
- Condition of blood vessels, membranes, spinal cord, nerve roots;
- Pinched nerve fibers;
- Condition of the soft tissues in the lower back.
In conclusion, the doctor describes the size of the lesions, their exact location, the type of pathology, and assesses the likely negative impact on nearby tissues.
How often can a spinal tomography be done?
Since magnetic resonance imaging does not involve radiation exposure to the body, it can be performed an unlimited number of times for any category of patients. This study can be combined on the same day with any type of diagnostics: ultrasound, radiography, computed tomography. The decision on the frequency of MRI of the spine is made by the attending physician, based on the diagnosis and course of treatment. For preventive purposes, it is recommended to have a spinal tomography once every two years for all people over 35 years of age.
Advantages and disadvantages
Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine has a number of advantages:
- high quality and informative images;
- display of back structures in a three-dimensional model;
- absence of pain and discomfort during scanning;
- no radiation exposure;
- the ability to detect neoplasms and pathologies at the development stage.
The disadvantages of this method include:
- higher cost of MRI compared to radiography and CT;
- poor visualization of bones (computer tomography is better suited to assess the composition of the bone tissue of the vertebrae);
- incompatibility with metal in the body and electronic implants.
- MRI
- Ultrasound
MRI tomograph:
Siemens Magnetom C
Type:
Open (expert class)
What's included in the price:
Diagnostics, interpretation of images, written report from a radiologist, recording of tomograms on CD + free consultation with a neurologist or orthopedist after an MRI of the spine or joint
Ultrasound machine
HITACHI HI VISION Avius
Class:
Expert (installation year 2019)
What's included in the price:
Diagnostics, interpretation of images, written diagnostic report
Tomography procedure
Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine does not require preparation. The patient simply needs to sign up for the examination in advance and arrive at the medical center 15 minutes before the start of the examination to complete all the documents. You can undergo diagnostics in your own clothes. For a visit to the MRI center, it is best to choose clothes that are comfortable for lying down for a long time and do not restrict movement. There should not be any metal elements on it, for example: zippers, rivets, buttons, rhinestones. Before the scan begins, the patient will be asked to remove all metal from the body and remove all electronic devices from their pockets.
In the diagnostic room, the patient will be helped to take a horizontal position on the tomography table. A special MRI coil will be installed in the examination area. The table is then slid into the scanner. The operator will leave the room and launch the scanning program in the control room.
The patient will understand that the tomograph has started working by the noise of the operating machine. This will be the sounds of periodic tapping. If this noise annoys a person, they will be offered special noise-canceling headphones. During the procedure, two-way communication is maintained with the subject. He can report his discomfort at any time via the microphone inside the tomograph. The operator will immediately stop the scan and try to remove the cause of the discomfort.
The duration of examination of one part of the spine is on average 10-20 minutes. All this time, the person being diagnosed must remain motionless. Any movement can cause the final tomograms to have artifacts. This will reduce the information value of the images.
Questions about diagnostics
Dress code
You can enter the MRI room in any clothing that does not contain metal. When going to the clinic, it is best to wear loose, non-restrictive clothing without metal elements (zippers, rivets, hooks), in which you can lie comfortably. For women, we recommend bringing a T-shirt or not wearing a bra with metal wires or hooks.
Preparation
This tomography does not require any preparatory steps from the patient.
Is MRI harmful to health?
MRI is a completely harmless diagnostic method for the human body. This method of examination can be carried out at any age and for any disease an unlimited number of times, unless you have contraindications.
Contraindications
Some pacemakers and foreign objects in the body may pose serious limitations to tomography. In particular, cochlear implants, vascular clips, stents, heart valves and insulin pumps, pacemakers, neurostimulators, steel screws, staples, pins, plates, joint endoprostheses may be a contraindication to diagnosis. The patient must notify the radiologist about all implanted objects in the body. The diagnostician will be able, based on information about the composition and model of the implant, to assess the possibility of conducting diagnostics.
If you are having an MRI with contrast, be sure to report any allergies to medications or kidney problems. It is also necessary to inform the radiologist about a possible pregnancy.
Is it possible to do an MRI with braces and dental implants?
Dental implants and crowns are not a contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging. The magnetic field does not have any negative effect on them. Fixed brace systems can produce artifacts on tomograms during MRI of the head. If the light effect is too strong, the doctor will stop the study and offer the patient alternative diagnostic methods.
Is the device noisy?
Any MRI machine in working condition makes noises reminiscent of tapping. The open tomograph is one of the quietest installations. The noise from its operation is significantly lower compared to closed tomographs. If the sounds of the operating unit cause you anxiety, you will definitely be offered special noise-canceling headphones.
What should I do if I have claustrophobia?
An open tomograph is the optimal solution for patients suffering from panic attacks in a closed space. It is open on the sides on three sides and does not create a claustrophobic feeling.
Can I take sedatives before an MRI?
If you are a little nervous, before the tomography you can take mild sedatives, for example, valerian, motherwort infusion or afobazole. Taking sedatives does not have a negative impact on the quality of MRI.
Why is it important not to move during the test?
Any movement during the examination reduces the quality of the resulting images. Multiple motion artifacts may appear on the images, and the MRI results will be uninformative.
Can I do the research with an accompanying person?
Absolutely yes. You can invite any accompanying person from among your family and friends to the MRI room. It is important that your companion does not have metal implants or artificial pacemakers in his body.
What should you expect during and after the study?
In most cases, an MRI is completely painless. However, some patients experience discomfort due to the need to lie still during the test. Other patients may experience an attack of claustrophobia (fear of closed spaces). This is why doctors offer sedatives for anxious patients, but in reality only 1 in 20 people need them.
During the study, a local increase in the temperature of the body area being examined is possible, and this is normal. However, if this phenomenon greatly bothers the patient, it is important to inform the doctor about it. It is extremely important that the patient lie absolutely still while the images are being taken (from several seconds to several minutes at a time). During some tests, the doctor asks the patient to hold their breath. The tapping or clicking sounds that the magnet makes as it produces high-frequency pulses help you know when image capture has begun. You can relax a little between series of shots, but you should still try to maintain your body position, without moving if possible.
Typically, the patient is alone in the treatment room during the examination. However, the radiologist can see, hear and talk to the patient at all times via a two-way communication system. Staff at many diagnostic centers allow relatives or friends of the patient to remain in the room until the test begins. However, they then need to go out to avoid exposure to the magnetic field.
The patient may be given headphones or earplugs to help suppress the loud knocking and humming of the scanner while images are taken. The patient has the right to ask for headphones himself. Children must be provided with headphones or earplugs of the appropriate size. The MRI scanner is air conditioned and well lit. Some centers play soft music during the examination.
When a contrast material is injected, there is normally a feeling of coolness or a rush of blood that lasts a couple of minutes. The patient experiences some discomfort when inserting and removing an intravenous catheter, which can leave hemorrhage under the skin. It is extremely rare that irritation occurs on the skin at the site of needle insertion. Some patients experience a metallic taste in their mouth after receiving contrast material.
If the procedure was not accompanied by the use of sedatives, then a recovery period after it is not required. A return to normal activities and normal nutrition is possible immediately after the study. Some patients experience side effects when contrast is administered, such as nausea and local pain. It is extremely rare for an allergic reaction to the contrast material to occur, resulting in hives, itchy eyes, or other allergy symptoms. If you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction, you should inform your doctor. A radiologist or nurse will immediately provide the necessary assistance.
Manufacturers of contrast materials do not recommend breastfeeding for 24-48 hours after intravenous administration of contrast to the mother. However, experts from the American College of Radiology and the European Society of Urogenital Radiology report that research suggests that it is safe to continue breastfeeding after the use of intravenous contrast materials.
The American College of Radiology guidelines on the use of contrast materials state: “A review of the published literature indicates that oral administration by infants of small amounts of gadolinium-based contrast material that is excreted in breast milk does not cause any toxic effects. Therefore, we believe that after the introduction of such materials, continued breastfeeding is safe for both mother and baby. If the mother is concerned about the development of any unwanted effects, she should be given the opportunity to either continue breastfeeding after administration of gadolinium contrast or temporarily discontinue it. If the mother decides to stop breastfeeding for 24 hours after administration of the drug, then active expression of milk from both breasts is recommended during this period. Alternatively, a breast pump may be used before an examination using a contrast agent, which allows for enough milk to be fed to the baby for 24 hours after the procedure.”
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MRI of the spine with contrast
If the examination is carried out according to the MRI protocol of the spine with contrast, before scanning the patient will be injected into a vein in the arm with a special contrast agent based on gadolinium salts. The main task of the dye is to maximize tissue contrast. Contrasting will allow doctors to identify tumor pathologies and judge the malignant potential of the tumor based on the type of drug accumulation. The duration of an MRI with contrast is about 40-60 minutes.
Interpretation of MRI of the spine
The result of spinal tomography is a series of tomographic images that are interpreted by a radiologist. He compares the anatomical features of the spine under study with the norm and notes all deviations in his conclusion. The decryption procedure takes on average 40-60 minutes. Upon completion, the patient receives the entire package of documents - MRI images recorded on electronic or film media, a written report from a radiologist and recommendations for further steps. The patient should contact his or her physician with the results of the tomography. His tasks include, based on the summary data of the medical history, initial examination and tomography results, making a final diagnosis and suggesting treatment options.
It is difficult for an ordinary person to independently understand and interpret the results that, after an MRI, will be given to him on a digital medium. Therefore, with the conclusion of the radiologist and the photographs, he should go for a consultation with the attending physician, who will make a final diagnosis based on the summary data of the examination, medical history and tomography data. In our clinic , after an MRI, you can have a free consultation with a neurologist or orthopedist . Doctor
- will answer all questions based on the results of the research and the conclusion received
- Helps explain tomography results without using complex radiological terminology
- will conduct an examination and, if necessary, offer treatment.
How is the research conducted?
MRI can be performed either on an outpatient basis or during the patient’s hospitalization. The radiologist's assistant places the patient on a moving table. The body position is secured using belts and special bolsters that help the patient lie still.
Devices containing wires that send and receive radio waves are placed around the area of the body being examined.
Depending on the location of the symptoms, the doctor may prescribe an examination of only one part of the spine, for example, the cervical, thoracic or lumbar.
If it is necessary to use contrast material during the test, the nurse inserts a catheter into a vein in the arm. A bottle of saline solution may be connected to the catheter. The solution provides continuous flushing of the system, which prevents it from clogging before contrast material is injected.
After all preparations, the patient’s table moves inside the magnet, and the radiologist and nursing staff leave the treatment room for the period of the study.
After the examination is completed, the doctor asks the patient to wait until the analysis of the resulting images is completed, since an additional series of images may be required.
The intravenous catheter is removed.
A body MRI procedure typically consists of many sequences (series) of images, each taking several minutes.
The entire procedure usually takes about 45 minutes.
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Contraindications
Usually your primary care physician or neurologist will be able to tell you whether an MRI of your spine is necessary. This procedure is absolutely safe and painless. But you need to understand that, like any other diagnostic method, it has its contraindications. This type of examination cannot be carried out:
- In the presence of metal-containing implants - prostheses, pins, clips, shunts.
- If there are electronic devices and pacemakers in the body, for example: cochlear implants, insulin pumps, cardiac pacemakers.
- If the patient’s body contains large metal elements - fragments, bullets.
If you do not know the composition of metal structures in the body, you should undergo radiography before diagnosis. It will show whether there is a metal component in the inclusions. Contrast-enhanced spinal tomography should not be performed on pregnant women. Before undergoing a contrast study, you should consult with your doctor if you have asthma, kidney failure, or allergic reactions to any medications. Sometimes these conditions may be a contraindication to MRI of the spine with contrast. If you have any doubts about the possibility of conducting an MRI examination when making an appointment for diagnostics, you can always clarify all questions with your doctor. We will help you find the best diagnostic solution for your individual case.
How to prepare for a lumbar MRI
The procedure does not require special preparation. From the package of documents you will need the results of previous examinations, if any, and a doctor’s referral, since this allows you to focus the work of the diagnostician on the truly problem area.
Before the procedure itself, you should visit the toilet and get rid of all metal objects both on clothing and on the body - they create interference and spoil the quality of the image.
If the patient has a fear of closed spaces or any mental disorders, you should inform the doctor about this in advance. Then he will prescribe a mild sedative.
Which tomograph is best for MRI of the spine?
| OPEN TYPE MRI | SEMI-OPEN MRI | CLOSED MRI |
The quality of magnetic resonance imaging of the spine depends on three factors:
- tomograph power;
- personnel qualifications;
- application of contrast.
In medical centers in St. Petersburg, you can undergo examination using open and closed type devices. Open-type devices are low-field tomographs with an induction force of 0.2-0.5 Tesla. Diagnostics on them takes place in comfortable conditions for the patient, however, the scanning power of these machines is lower than that of closed-type devices. These devices will cope well with the diagnosis of degenerative changes in the spine - hernias, protrusions, spondylosis, osteochondrosis. If there is a suspicion of tumor lesions or demyelinating diseases, magnetic resonance imaging of the spine should be performed using closed tomographs. The closed-circuit device is a cylindrical tube into which the patient is placed for the duration of the study. It allows you to create a strong magnetic field, and the quality of the resulting images will be maximum. This level of detail will make it possible to identify space-occupying formations and foci of demyelination up to 1 mm in size. The final decision on the model and type of tomograph should be made by the attending physician. Based on the initial diagnosis, he will be able to indicate the minimum thermal power of the installation in his direction for MRI. If the patient independently decides to undergo diagnostics for preventive purposes, you can begin your diagnostic journey with an inexpensive open-type MRI or a high-field 1.5 Tesla unit. It is reasonable to resort to an expensive examination with 3 Tesla tomographs if you have serious medical conditions or are undergoing complex spinal surgery.
Author: Belik Ekaterina Mikhailovna
Radiologist with 19 years of experience
What determines the price of an MRI of the spine?
Prices for MRI of the spine in St. Petersburg largely depend on the need for contrast injection and the power of the tomograph. But these costs are fully justified: the earlier the disease is detected, the faster and more successful the treatment process will be. The cost of the study usually includes: preparing the patient, scanning, deciphering the results, issuing a written report and recording the tomograms on a CD.
| Service | Price according to Price | Discount Price at Night | Discount Price During the Day |
| from 23.00 to 8.00 | from 8.00 to 23.00 | ||
| MRI of the cervical spine | 3300 rub. | 2690 rub. | 2990 rub. |
| MRI of the thoracic spine | 3300 rub. | 2690 rub. | 2990 rub. |
| MRI of the lumbosacral spine | 3300 rub. | 2690 rub. | 2990 rub. |
| MRI of the craniovertebral junction | 3300 rub. | 2690 rub. | 2990 rub. |
| MRI of the sacroiliac joints | 4000 rub. | 3190 rub. | 3690 rub. |
| MRI of the coccyx (MRI of the sacrococcygeal region) | 3300 rub. | 2690 rub. | 2990 rub. |
| MRI of the cervicothoracic spine | 6600 rub. | 5380 rub. | 5980 rub. |
| MRI of three parts of the spine (MRI of the cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral regions) | 9900 rub. | 6900 rub. | 7900 rub. |
| MRI of the entire spine / MRI of the back | 9900 rub. | 6900 rub. | 7900 rub. |
| MRI of the central nervous system (MRI of the brain, MRI of the cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral regions) | 13200 rub. | 9590 rub. | 10890 rub. |
| Appointment with a neurologist | 1800 rub. | free after MRI | free after MRI |
| Comprehensive body diagnostics (MRI of the thoracic spine, MRI of the lumbar spine, ultrasound of the abdominal organs, ultrasound of the kidneys, ultrasound of the bladder, consultation with a neurologist, consultation with a therapist) | 11700 rub. | 7000 rub. |
What determines the cost of tomography?
Tomograph power
Applying Contrast
Personnel qualifications
Promotions and discounts
Scope of application of MRI
MRI of the lumbosacral spine
Many patients do not decide to undergo examination for various reasons.
However, it should be remembered that such alarming symptoms as shooting pain in the lower back, numbness in the legs
and back, muscle weakness and poor circulation in the lower extremities are a good reason to conduct a diagnosis.
MRI of the cervical spine
With high accuracy and without surgical intervention, MRI will allow you to examine the structure of bones and tissues adjacent to the spinal column, including bone marrow.
In addition, this diagnostic method allows you to visualize the head and cervical blood flow and timely identify serious pathologies that are accompanied by seemingly insignificant symptoms (neck pain, weakness in the arms, headaches, fainting, etc.). MRI of the thoracic spine
The vertebrae of this section suffer less from injuries, since their movements relative to each other are greatly limited.
However, metabolic disorders can lead to decreased nutrition of the discs and compression of nerve fibers, which leads to pain in the stomach, heart, pancreas, liver and kidneys. What does an MRI of the spine show?
MRI is a scan of the human body to produce three-dimensional images of organs.
Unlike traditional X-rays, MRI does not use ionizing radiation and can be completed by the patient on their own initiative. MRI of the spine
allows you to assess the condition of internal tissues without surgical intervention, obtain a visual 3D image and timely detect the consequences of injuries, tumors,
neurological disorders in the body
or damage to the musculoskeletal system.