Current advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in spinal cord trauma: review article

Magnetic resonance (MR) images of 87 patients who had sustained spinal cord injuries during the past 2 years, were analyzed and compared with the corresponding clinical, surgical, and in some cases pathological findings. In addition to the standard MR imaging techniques applied in the spinal cord injuries, we also introduced some recent MRI technical achievements which are anticipated to improve diagnostic accuracy and broaden clinical application of this modality with regard to the spinal cord trauma. The recent technical advancements that we used include image enhancement, fat tissue signal suppression, three-dimensional (3-D) imaging, and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). The reviewed post traumatic changes disclosed in these MR images were classified in 4 categories: acute, subacute, chronic, and the injury's sequelae. The essential properties of the 4 new imaging advancements are considered in relationship to the gain in diagnostic improvement of MRI of the 4 phases of patients with spinal cord trauma.