Fonar Upright (TM) MRI Case Study

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UPRIGHT DYNAMIC MRI REVEALS OCCULT DISC HERNIATION Professor J. Randy Jinkins, MD, FACR, FEC Department of Radiology Downstate Medical Center State University of New York 450 Clarkson Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11203 USA "This MRI unit is important in that it enables the medical imaging specialist to uncover significant occult disease that is not apparent on the recumbent MRI studies" J. Randy Jinkins, MD, FACR, FEC Clinical Case Overview 37 year-old male with bilateral pain and tingling in hands exacerbated upon flexion of the cervical spine. Case Study The images shown below were acquired on the Fonar Stand-Up™ MRI. The sagittal image in Figure 1 was acquired with the patient in a conventional recumbent position; Figure 2 is of the same patient, but in a standing position during extension. The standing-extension image demonstrates marked stenosis of the central spinal canal resulting from posterior disc protrusions extending into the anterior aspect of the spinal canal and focal ligamentous infolding posteriorly. Note that the resulting compression of the underlying spinal cord is not evident on the recumbent scan. (Scanning parameters for sagittal scans: TR= 3000 msec; TE = 160 msec; ETL = 15; 4.0 mm slice; scan time: 2:55 min - recumbent, 3:19 min - standing extension.)
Figure 1: Sagittal T2-weighted fast spin echo (FSE) image in recumbent position	Figure 2: Sagittal T2-weighted FSE image in standing position during extension
The gradient recalled echo T2*-weighted axial images are from the same patient. The standing extension image (Figure 4) demonstrates a focal posterior disc herniation at C4/5 level that is not visible on the recumbent scan (Figure 3). Patient positioning and dynamic maneuvers clearly play a critical role in detecting clinically significant spinal pathology. Note that a final diagnosis based only on the recumbent scan would result in a missed pathologic diagnosis. (Scanning parameters for axial scans: TR = 506 msec; TE = 22 msec; FA = 20º; 4.0 mm slice; scan time: 5:04 min.)
Figure 3: Axial T2*-weighted gradient recalled echo (GRE) image of patient in recumbent position	Figure 4: Axial T2*-weighted GRE image of patient in standing-extension
Diagnosis: Fluctuating intervertebral disc herniation dependent upon patient position and dynamic physical maneuver Clinical Studies performed at: Melville MRI - Long Island FONAR Corporation, Melville, NY Site Map \| Terms of Use-Our Privacy Policy Use Copyright © 2003 FONAR- All Rights Reserved