The Value of Additional Cervicothoracic Spine Sagittal T2-weighted Images Included in Routine Lumbar Spine MR Imaging.
10.13104/jksmrm.2013.17.2.91
- Author:
Jiwoon SEO
1
;
So Young PARK
;
Joon Woo LEE
;
Guen Young LEE
;
Heung Sik KANG
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. joonwoo2@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Lumbar spine MRI;
Cervicothoracic spine;
Sagittal T2-weighted images
- MeSH:
Ethics Committees, Research;
Humans;
Retrospective Studies;
Spine
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
2013;17(2):91-100
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of cervicothoracic spine sagittal T2-weighted images (CT SAG T2WIs) included in routine lumbar spine MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained and informed consents were waived for this retrospective study. The study group comprised 2,113 patients who underwent lumbar spine MRI from January 2005 to December 2005. CT SAG T2WIs were added in the routine lumbar spine MRIs. Radiologic reports were reviewed retrospectively for pathologic lesions on CT SAG T2WIs by one radiologist. Information of additional cervical or thoracic spine MRI and/or CT for further evaluation of positive findings on CT SAG T2WIs and their treatment were collected by retrospectively reviewing medical records. RESULTS: The CT SAG T2WIs revealed 142 pathologic lesions in 139 (6.58%) of the 2,113 patients. They were easily obtained without positional change in a scan time of less than 2 minutes. Additional cervical or thoracic spine MRI and/or CT for positive findings on CT SAG T2WIs were performed in 13 patients. Seven patients underwent surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: CT SAG T2WIs included in routine lumbar spine MRI were useful in finding the pathologic lesions in cervicothoracic spine for the patients who assumed to have lesions in lumbar spine.
