Cervical spine MR imaging: generating high-signal CSF in sagittal and axial images

Three magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques were compared as to their ability to generate images with high-signal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to provide a high-contrast CSF-dura interface. The three techniques were CSF gating to the peripheral pulse, selective saturation recovery with gradient refocusing (SSRGR), and gradient recalled acquisition in the steady state (GRASS). In sagittal views of the cervical spine, CSF gating proved to be a reliable technique for producing images with uniform high-signal CSF in a single-section or multi-section mode. In axial views, SSRGR and GRASS techniques were more consistent than CSF gating in producing high-signal CSF images, especially in a multisection mode. Although axial image quality was nearly equivalent for SSRGR and GRASS techniques, the latter was clinically more efficient because of shorter imaging times. These methods of imaging in the cervical spine yield sufficient CSF-dura contrast and spatial resolution to be of use in the diagnosis of cervical disk disease.