MRI Cervical SPine

indications for C spine

persistent neck pain/radiculopathy, with 6 week course of conservative care and no response to treatment
cancer or tumors of spine, spinal cord, meninges
congenital malformations of cord
MS or demyelinating diseases
spinal cord injury or neurological defect
postop
cspinal abnormalities in children
suspected fxs
arm pain for more than 6 weeks
infection or inflammatory
monitoring of syrinx
trauma

contraindications c spine

electricaslly, magnetically, mechanically activated implant, aneyurism clips not made of titanieum, pregnancy, surgical clips or staples, metal foreign body in eye, metal shrapnel or bullet

pt prep c spine

written consent
remove jewlery and everything
note weight of pt

if contrast

explain risk and benefits prior. give to pt if GFR above 30

positioning c spine

head first supine with head and neck coil

centering c spine

2.5cm below chin in head down position

C spine protocol

• 3 plane localizer

• Sag T1

• Sag T2

• Sag STIR

• Ax PD through intervertebral space

• Add for MS:

  • Block axial T2

  • Block axial Gre

localizers are

T1 weighted low resolution

c spine Sagittal slices planned in

coronal plane

sagittal slices angle on axial c spine

parallel to line along center of vertebral body through spinous process

c spine coverage and FOV size

Pons to T4, 280mm

c spine side to side coverage on sagittal

border of transverse process to lateral border of the other

sat banbd sagittal

ove esophagus to cover swallowing artifact

sagital phase direction c spine

head to foot

sag T2 c spine

Sag T1 c spine

sag STIR c spine

c spine MS axial

block

T2 Medic Axial C spine slices planned how and angle

on sagittal plane and position the block perpendicular to spinal cord
place mor eif there is a prolapse
coronal plane is parallel to disc space

T2 Medic axial coverage c spine

C2 to T1