High field strength magnetic resonance of extra-axial spinal pathology

High field strength (1.5 T) surface coil magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine was performed on 560 patients over a 9 month period of time. A total of 220 patients with extra-axial pathology including spinal stenosis, spondylosis, herniated disc, traumatic, inflammatory, vascular, developmental and tumorous lesions were included in this initial spine MRI experience. Results of these studies clearly indicate an expanded role of increasing importance for MRI performed at high field strength in the evaluation of spinal extra-axial pathology compared with the information that has been obtained from examinations performed at lower field strengths. Studies obtained at 1.5 T may obviate the need for myelography in many cases.