Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 May;33(5):3200-3210.
doi: 10.1007/s00330-023-09447-w. Epub 2023 Feb 23.

Diagnostic value of a new axial loading MRI device in patients with suspected lumbar spinal stenosis

Xingyu Fang  1 , Jialin Li  2 , Liwei Wang  3 , Lin Liu  1 , Wei Lv  1 , Zhiquan Tang  1 , Daifeng Gao  4
Affiliations

Diagnostic value of a new axial loading MRI device in patients with suspected lumbar spinal stenosis

Xingyu Fang et al. Eur Radiol. 2023 May.

Abstract

Objectives: This study was carried out to investigate a new device for axial loading MRI (alMRI) in the diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

Methods: A total of 87 patients with suspected LSS sequentially underwent conventional MRI and alMRI using a new device with pneumatic shoulder-hip compression mode. Four quantitative parameters of dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCA), sagittal vertebral canal diameter (SVCD), disc height (DH), and ligamentum flavum thickness (LFT) at L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1 in both examinations were measured and compared. Eight qualitative indicators were compared as valuable diagnostic information. Image quality, examinee comfort, test-retest repeatability, and observer reliability were also assessed.

Results: Using the new device, all 87 patients successfully completed alMRI with no statistically significant differences in image quality and examinee comfort from conventional MRI. Statistically significant changes were observed in DSCA, SVCD, DH, and LFT after loading (p < 0.01). SVCD, DH, LFT, and DSCA changes were all positively correlated (r = 0.80, 0.72, 0.37, p < 0.01). Eight qualitative indicators increased from 501 to 669 after axial loading, for a total increase of 168 (33.5%). Nineteen patients (21.8%, 19/87) developed absolute stenosis after axial loading and 10 of them (11.5%, 10/87) also had a significant reduction in DSCA (> 15 mm2). The test-retest repeatability and observer reliability were good to excellent.

Conclusion: The new device is stable for performing alMRI and can exacerbate the severity of spinal stenosis, providing more valuable information for diagnosing LSS and reducing missed diagnoses.

Key points: • The new axial loading MRI (alMRI) device could detect a higher frequency of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). • The new device with pneumatic shoulder-hip compression mode was used to investigate its applicability in alMRI and diagnostic value for LSS. • The new device is stable for performing alMRI and can provide more valuable information for diagnosing LSS.

Keywords: Equipment and supplies; Lumbosacral region; Magnetic resonance imaging; Spinal stenosis; Weight-bearing.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

References

    1. Vroomen PC, de Krom MC, Wilmink JT, Kester AD, Knottnerus JA (2002) Diagnostic value of history and physical examination in patients suspected of lumbosacral nerve root compression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 72(5):630–634 - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. Rainville J, Lopez E (2013) Comparison of radicular symptoms caused by lumbar disc herniation and lumbar spinal stenosis in the elderly. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 38:1282–1287
    1. Kreiner DS, Hwang SW, Easa JE et al (2014) An evidence-based clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy. Spine J 14(1):180–191 - DOI - PubMed
    1. de Schepper EI, Overdevest GM, Suri P et al (2013) Diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis: an updated systematic review of the accuracy of diagnostic tests. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 38(8):E469-81
    1. de Graaf I, Prak A, Bierma-Zeinstra S, Thomas S, Peul W, Koes B (2006) Diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis: a systematic review of the accuracy of diagnostic tests. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 31(10):1168–76

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources