MRI L-Spine - Sagittal T2 - Normal
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Sagittal T2 - Normal
- The normal intervertebral discs appear slightly brighter than the bone marrow of the adjacent vertebral bodies
- The spinal canal is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which appears bright on T2 images
- Within the CSF the normal roots of the cauda equina are visible
MRI L-Spine - Sagittal T2 - Nerve root compression
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Sagittal T2 - Nerve root compression
- The L3/4 intervertebral disc appears normal
- The L4/5 and L5/S1 discs have lost their normal internal fluid signal
- They have lost height and are bulging posteriorly
- These disc bulges are narrowing the spinal canal and at L4/5 the caudal roots are compressed
- Note: This patient had clinical features of acute cauda equina syndrome – a neurosurgical emergency
MRI L-spine - Axial T2 - Nerve root compression - Normal v abnormal
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Axial T2 - Nerve root compression - Normal v abnormal
- Nerve root compression is often best seen in the axial plane
- The abnormal example shows the typical features of posterior disc bulging with compression of the nerve roots in a patient suffering from left-sided sciatica
- Note: Disc ‘protrusion’ and ‘bulging’ are synonymous terms – ‘slipped disc’ is an inaccurate term and is not used