The diagnostic value of MRI of the spine and spinal cord

Ninety patients with diseases of the spine or spinal cord were examined using a 0.256 T superconducting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit. MRI was very helpful in clearly delineating tumors and syrinx in cases of tumors within the spinal cord and myelosyringosis. It was comparable to conventional imaging modalities (CIM) in detecting congenital malformations, such as Chiari malformation and spinal dysraphism. In visualizing herniation of intervertebral disk, and tumors of the spine and spinal cord, MRI was not so sensitive as CIM because of its poor spacial resolution. (Namekawa, K.)