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Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Spine

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Interventional Radiology of the Spine

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Abstract

T1- and T2-weighted images are routinely performed in the evaluation of the spine. With T1-weighting, the intervertebral disc demonstrates fairly homogeneous signal intensity that is slightly less than that of the vertebral body red marrow. Epidural fat can be distinguished by its relatively bright appearance or high signal intensity (1). Nerve tissue, on the other hand, is of low intensity (dark appearance) but may still be differentiated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which appears black with an even lower signal. The thin lines of low signal intensity along the superior and inferior borders of vertebral bodies represent the cortical endplates and have been confirmed by correlation with cadaveric specimens (2).

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Authors
  1. Eiran M. Mandelker MD
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  2. Gretchen G. Cordero MD
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  3. Dennis H. Son
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  4. J. Kevin McGraw MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA

    J. Kevin McGraw MD

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Mandelker, E.M., Cordero, G.G., Son, D.H., McGraw, J.K. (2004). Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Spine. In: McGraw, J.K. (eds) Interventional Radiology of the Spine. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-418-4_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-418-4_3

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-419-7

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