Spine MRI

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

MRI scans

Skeletal spine

Vertebra, lumbar (low back)

Vertebra, thoracic (mid back)

Posterior spinal anatomy

Overview

Risks

Results

Spine MRI

Alternative Names:

Magnetic resonance imaging - spine; Nuclear magnetic resonance - spine; MRI of the spine; NMR - spine

What the risks are:

There is no ionizing radiation involved in MRI, and there have been no documented significant side effects of the magnetic fields and radio waves used on the human body to date. The most commonly used MRI intravenous contrast agent, gadolinium, is very safe. There have been documented allergic reactions to it, but that has been an extremely rare occurrence.

If sedation is used, there are associated risks of over-sedation. The technologist monitors the patient's vital signs, including heart rate and respiration as needed.

Because the effects of strong magnetic fields on a fetus are not well documented at this time, pregnant women are usually advised to avoid MRI scans.

Review Date: 1/24/2005
Reviewed By: Jeffrey J. Brown, M.D., F.A.C.R., Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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