Strategies for efficient imaging of the lumbar spine

The ability to perform high-quality magnetic resonance (MR) examinations of the lumbar spine in as short a time as possible is of major importance. Many patients with spine abnormalities are unable to remain immobile for extended periods of time because of discomfort. Prolonged examination times lead to increased motion artifact and a subsequent degradation of image quality. The high cost of MR imaging equipment also dictates that examinations be performed as rapidly as possible, without sacrificing quality. Understanding the factors influencing image quality, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and imaging time is the key to limiting examination time without significantly compromising quality. This chapter discusses the factors affecting SNR and how these factors can be manipulated to develop efficient imaging strategies for the spine. The general principles can be applied to imaging other structures as well