UPRIGHT DYNAMIC MRI REVEALS OCCULT DISC HERNIATION
Professor J. Randy Jinkins, MD, FACR
Medical College of Pennsylvania-Hahnemann
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
"This MRI unit is important in that it enables the medical imaging
specialist to uncover significant occult disease that is not apparent on the recumbent MRI studies"
J. Randy Jinkins, MD, FACR
Clinical Case Overview
37 year-old male with bilateral pain and tingling in hands exacerbated upon flexion of the cervical spine.
Case Study
The images shown below were acquired on the Fonar Stand-Up™ MRI. The sagittal image in Figure 1 was acquired
with the patient in a conventional recumbent position; Figure 2 is of the same patient, but in a standing
position during extension. The standing-extension image demonstrates marked stenosis of the central spinal
canal resulting from posterior disc protrusions extending into the anterior aspect of the spinal canal and
focal ligamentous infolding posteriorly. Note that the resulting compression of the underlying spinal cord
is not evident on the recumbent scan. (Scanning parameters for sagittal scans: TR= 3000 msec; TE = 160 msec;
ETL = 15; 4.0 mm slice; scan time: 2:55 min - recumbent, 3:19 min - standing extension.)
Figure 1: Sagittal T2-weighted fast spin echo (FSE) image in recumbent position |
Figure 2: Sagittal T2-weighted FSE image in standing position during extension |
The gradient recalled echo T2*-weighted axial images are from the same patient.
The standing extension image (Figure 4) demonstrates a focal posterior disc herniation at C4/5 level that is
not visible on the recumbent scan (Figure 3). Patient positioning and dynamic maneuvers clearly play a critical
role in detecting clinically significant spinal pathology. Note that a final diagnosis based only on the
recumbent scan would result in a missed pathologic diagnosis. (Scanning parameters for axial scans: TR = 506
msec; TE = 22 msec; FA = 20º; 4.0 mm slice; scan time: 5:04 min.)
Figure 3: Axial T2*-weighted gradient recalled echo (GRE) image of patient in recumbent position |
Figure 4: Axial T2*-weighted GRE image of patient in standing-extension |
Diagnosis: Fluctuating intervertebral disc herniation dependent upon
patient position and dynamic physical maneuver
Clinical Studies performed at:
Melville MRI - Long Island
FONAR Corporation, Melville, NY
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