MR imaging of the spine at 3T

Abstract

There are many advantages and challenges associated with 3T imaging of the spine. The increase in SNR allows for optimization of diagnostic quality and improved clinical efficiency. PI techniques merge well with high-field technology, which minimizes many of the challenges that are associated with 3T systems. The increase in chemical shift, pulsatile flow, and susceptibility artifact can be mediated with manipulation of imaging parameters. One major challenge that plagued 3T imaging of the spine was the decrease in fluid contrast that was associated with the lengthened T1 relaxation times. This has been resolved essentially for non-contrast spine imaging by using T1 FLAIR, which delineates soft tissue, CSF, disc, and bone interfaces exquisitely well. The optimal postcontrast T1 sequence may not exist yet. Clinical experience dictates that with a combination of T1 FLAIR with or without fat saturation (in one plane) and T1 FSE(in the other plane) no significant enhancing pathology will be missed. Despite the challenges, 3T imaging of the spine provides many improvements over 1.5T systems. These advances can be maximized by use of still evolving technologies and pulse sequence designs.