Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Spine

Abstract

Depending on the type and manufacturer of your magnet, and the type of examination you are going to perform, patients can be positioned either head first or feet first. The main advantage of positioning patients feet first is the diminution of claustrophobic feelings. Many magnet systems, however, obligate you to position patients for cervical spine (CS) examinations head first the fixed location of the head and/or the CS coil. If you have the choice, patients, especially anxious ones and children, should be positioned feet first whenever possible. We use a knee support for patient comfort in examinations of the cervical and thoracic spine; this, in turn, is favorable for the image quality as patients are less likely to move during the examination. In lumbar spine examinations, however, a lumbar support diminishes lumbar lordosis, and therefore, may diminish the amount of disc protrusion. Only when patients are unable to remain motionless without the support of the legs, e.g., patients with substantial back pain, should a knee support be used in lumbar spine examinations. In any case, the patient should be positioned as comfortably as possible to minimize movement artifacts. On high field magnets and/or magnets with strong gradients, earplugs or a headphone should be provided to the patient.