MRI: cervical spine
All content is checked by medical journalists.MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the cervical spine (MRT-cervical spine for short) is the method of choice when disease processes or injuries in the area of the cervical spinal cord or the upper nerve roots are to be diagnosed or examined more closely. Read everything you need to know about the MRI cervical spine here.
MRI cervical spine: when is the examination necessary?
Various diseases and injuries to the cervical spine can be detected or excluded with the help of MRI. These include, for example:
- Herniated disc in the area of the cervical spine
- inflammatory diseases of the spinal cord (e.g. multiple sclerosis)
- inflammatory diseases of the bone marrow
- benign or malignant tumors in the cervical spine
- Vascular malformations (arteriovenous fistulas, aneurysms) in the area of the cervical spine
- Injuries in the cervical spine
MRI cervical spine: how does the examination work?
In order to obtain optimal images, the patient must lie as still as possible during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine. Therefore, the head and shoulders of the patient are usually fixed with pads.
Sometimes the doctor also makes so-called functional recordings during the MRI: The patient's neck and head are placed one after the other in flexion, left or right rotation and other positions for the examination. In addition to instabilities in the cervical spine, the doctor can also identify narrowing and pinching of nerve roots that only occur when the head is in a certain position.
An MRI cervical spine usually takes about 20 minutes, but can also take more time for more specific questions and especially for functional diagnostics.
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