Neuroimaging of spinal diseases: a pictorial review

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a valuable noninvasive, cost-effective tool for accurately evaluating spine disorders. This article affords a comprehensive review of normal anatomy as it relates to MRI interpretation with specific attention to accurately defining nerve root abnormalities. It gives in-depth detail on disc herniation nomenclature with specific examples of disc bulge, disc protrusion, disc extrusion, and disc sequestration. In addition, there are illustrations of various forms of degenerative spine disease, including intradiscal degenerative disease, reactive end plate changes, spinal stenosis, synovial cyst formation, and spinal instability. Differentiating features for separating osteoporotic spine fracture from underlying neoplastic pathologic fracture are illustrated. Finally, examples of both benign and malignant disease are illustrated in the spine with corresponding clinical and MRI examples.