Magnetic resonance imaging in a spinal abscess model. Preliminary report

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Infectious Disease
• Animal Models

Background:

• Epidural infection is an increasing clinical concern, particularly with the rise of epidural catheter use and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases.
• Effective diagnostic imaging is essential for timely detection and management of spinal infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) scan techniques for lesion detectability in a newly developed spinal abscess model.
• To assess the efficacy of different MR imaging sequences and contrast administration for identifying spinal epidural infections.

Main Methods:

• A spinal abscess model was created in New Zealand White rabbits by injecting Staphylococcus aureus and microspheres into the epidural space.
• MR imaging was performed at 1.5 tesla using T2-weighted, T1-weighted (with and without fat saturation), and postcontrast T1-weighted sequences.
• Gadoteridol was administered intravenously as the contrast agent at a dose of 0.3 mmol/kg.

Main Results:

• Postcontrast MR scans were superior for detecting spinal abscesses, identifying lesions in all cases.
• T2-weighted scans were the next most effective, detecting 5 of 8 lesions.
• Enhanced visualization of lesion margins and the interface between the abscess and spinal cord was achieved with postcontrast imaging, with statistically significant results.

Conclusions:

• The developed animal model is effective for studying spinal infections and MR imaging characteristics.
• Intravenous contrast administration is critical for accurate lesion detection and evaluation in spinal epidural infections.
• This research highlights the importance of advanced MR imaging techniques in diagnosing challenging clinical scenarios like epidural abscesses.