MR examination for spinal cord compression: impact of a multicoil system on length of study

Twenty spinal studies to rule out cord compression using a multicoil array system were compared with the 20 consecutive previous studies in which a 5 x 11 inch flat plate coil (5 x 11 FPC) was used on the same 1.5 T MR scanner. The multicoil studies averaged 53 min shorter overall (105 min with the 5 x 11 FPC versus 52 min with multicoil). The reduction in scan time was maximal in studies when Gd-DTPA was administered (76 min reduction) or when the results showed noncompressive epidural disease or intramedullary disease (78 min). Scan quality was diagnostic in all examinations, and lesion localization was superior with the multicoil. The multicoil system substantially reduces scan times when whole spine studies are performed.