Lumbar Spine Comp

what is the coverage for sagittals

T11-T12 to S2, pedicle to pedicle, angled parallel to spinal cord

what is coverage for axials routinely

L1/L2 disc space through L5/S1 disc space

when should we give contrast

if tumors, infection, spinal cord mets

if the patient had back surgery tumorszhow do we angle the packages in axial

1 package for whole surgical area for tumor or lesion

if the patient had back surgery laminectomy/discectomy how do we angle the packages in axial

if one site?

2 separate sequences——- l1-l4, l4-s1

whole surgical site

how many slices per disc

1 above and 1 below disc space and an odd number

Difference between non-contrast and contrast exam protocols

Contrast includes axial T1s

what indication needs a cord motion protocol and how do you do it

spinal dysphragism, tethered cord, need leads to see flow of CSF, will need a Sag T2 Space/CISS angled L1 to the bottom of the sacrum

how to perform post processing for cord motion protocol

axial at end of conus, ROI are on fluid and one on cord, save both Argus flow changes

how to perform metal reduction

Triple bandwidth
Increase an average
Reduce TE
Increase Turbo factor
Increase resolution and increase matrix size but keep voxels the same and lower slice thickness
Optimize phase encoding direction to be perpendicular to the metal because parallel causes more of a blooming artefact

VAT and Warp in scanner
Larger % of VAT will lower signal

If only have VAT 3x the bandwidth and 50% VAT

NO FAT SAT Sequences!!!!!