Magnetic resonance imaging protocols for cervical disc disease: what is your neighbor up to?

To summarize the prevalence of particular protocols used for routine magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine.

Centers nationwide were asked to submit routine protocols for degenerative disease. Cases with a history of demyelinating disease or suspected cord lesions were excluded. The pulse sequences and scanning planes were tabulated for 105 centers. For the last 53 centers studied, axial gradient recalled echo sequences were subdivided into 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional Fourier transform.

There were 21 different combinations. A protocol consisting of sagittal T1+sagittal T2+axial gradient recalled echo T2 was used by 48% of centers. Two sagittal and 2 axial series in any combination was used in 30% (32/105 centers). One center used gradient recalled echo images exclusively, consisting of T1, proton density, and T2-weighted images, which included axial and sagittal planes.

Sagittal T1+sagittal T2+axial gradient recalled echo T2 is by far the most prevalent protocol used for imaging the cervical spine.