The MRI scan is
a fairly new test that does not use radiation.
By using magnetic and radio waves, the MRI
creates computer-generated images. The MRI
is able to cut through multiple layers of
the spine and show any abnormality of soft
tissues, such as nerves and ligaments. The
test also can be used to verify: loss of water
in a disc, facet joint hypertrophy (enlargement),
stenosis (narrowing of spinal canal), or a
herniated disc (protrusion or rupture of the
intervertebral disc).
During an MRI test, you
lie on a table that slides into a machine
with a large, round tunnel. The machine's
scanner then takes many pictures that are
watched and monitored by a technician. Some
newer MRI machines, called Open MRIs, are
likely to be more comfortable for patients
who experience claustrophobia. The procedure
takes 30-60 minutes.
In many cases, the MRI has replaced both the
myelogram and the CAT scan. Sometimes the
myelogram still shows the problem better than
the MRI, but today it is used less frequently
than the MRI.
