What does an MRI of thoracic spine show?

What does an MRI of thoracic spine show?

An MRI for thoracic spine shows snapshots of discs, nerves, spinal cord, and other soft tissues in this region of the spine. A trained radiographer and consultant radiologist will be able to point out anomalies and other irregularities occurring in this region which require closer attention.

How common are thoracic spine lesions?

Thoracic disk herniations account for approximately 0.25–0.75% of all symptomatic disk herniations, with 70% showing signs of spinal cord compression by the time of diagnosis . Unfortunately, because thoracic spinal lesions are rare, they can often be misdiagnosed at first .

Who can read MRI results?

radiologist
A specially trained doctor called a radiologist will read the results of your MRI and send the report to your doctor.

What can cause thoracic back pain?

Thoracic back pain can occur as a result of trauma or sudden injury, or it can occur through strain or poor posture over time. The most common cause of thoracic back pain appears to originate from muscular irritation or other soft tissue problems.

What symptoms do thoracic lesions cause?

However, if the lesion affects the spinal nerve roots or spinal cord, you are likely to have nerve symptoms, which can include:

• Weakness.
• Numbness.
• Tingling.
• Electrical shock-like feelings down one leg or arm.
• Difficulty with fine motor skills (such as writing) or with walking, balance, or coordination.

  What can a head MRI detect?

  MRI can detect a variety of conditions of the brain such as cysts, tumors, bleeding, swelling, developmental and structural abnormalities, infections, inflammatory conditions, or problems with the blood vessels. It can determine if a shunt is working and detect damage to the brain caused by an injury or a stroke.

  Do muscle tears show up on MRI?

  An MRI is the best type of imaging for looking at tissue. Your physician may order an MRI on the damaged muscle to find or learn more about your injury. This type of muscle tear imaging can pinpoint the location of even the smallest muscle strains and determine whether a partial or complete strain has occurred.

  What causes lesions on the thoracic spine?

  Put simply, a lesion is the name given to an abnormal change which occurs to any tissue or organ, caused by a disease or injury. The abnormal growths of tissue can occur from some form of trauma, including an accident, spinal cord injury, or serious infections, such as syphilis or HIV (Rubin).

  Can a thoracic MRI show MS?

  A: We recommend an initial cervical and thoracic spine MRI with and without contrast along with brain MRI in patients suspected of having MS, for diagnosis, to establish disease burden, and to monitor for asymptomatic spinal cord lesions[4,5].

  What organs can be seen on a thoracic spine MRI?

  But an MRI scan is the only way to get an accurate glimpse at the spine. The images generated by a back MRI scan allows diagnosis of the root cause of your back pain….This area is home to several important structures, such as:

  • Heart.
  • Lungs.
  • Thymus Gland.
  • Lymph Nodes.
  • Posterior Ribs.
  • Adrenal Glands.

    How long does an MRI of thoracic spine take?

    The length of a spine MRI is typically 15-25 minutes without a contrast injection. The total length of time is 30-35 minutes if a contrast injection is needed. You will be asked to hold still as MRI scans are sensitive to motion and any motion may obscure information the Radiologist uses to make a formal report.

    Can you see inflammation on an MRI?

    MRI allows to assess the soft tissue and bone marrow involvement in case of inflammation and/or infection. MRI is capable of detecting more inflammatory lesions and erosions than US, X-ray, or CT.

    How to read an MRI of the thoracic spine?

    This video–Understanding an MRI of the Normal Thoracic Spine–is designed for the primary care physician or specialist such as a Chiropractor or Physical Therapist to use to learn how to read and understand the MRI of the thoracic spine.

    What should I do before a thoracic MRI?

    Usually, you can eat, drink, and take medication as you normally do before the procedure. You may wear a gown, or your own clothes if they’re loose and don’t have any metal. You would need to take off any eyeglasses, hearing aids, jewelry, your watch, and other items. Metal and electronics may affect your MRI image or attract the magnet.

    What kind of Doctor do you see for a spine MRI?

    But if you get hives, itchy eyes, or any other symptoms, tell your radiologist right away. A specially trained doctor called a radiologist will look over your spine MRI and report the results to your doctor. Your doctor will explain what they mean and what to do next.

    Is it safe to have an MRI scan of your spine?

    The MRI may scan your whole spine or just a part of it. Unlike X-rays and computerized tomography (CT) scans, it doesn’t use damaging radiation. It’s generally safe and painless. The doctor will let you know about any possible risks you may face.

    How long does a thoracic MRI take?

    Typically, this test takes 30 to 60 minutes; however, some patients may need to lie still inside the scanner for up to two hours. Patients may talk to the technician during the test, but they must lie as still as possible. The MRI scanner will produce some noise, and patients should be assured that this is normal.

    What does a MRI of the thoracic spine show?

    The thoracic spine MRI helps doctors in diagnosing problems of the spinal cord, bones, and nerves in the back. It also helps in diagnosing fractures, infections, tumors, swelling, bleeding, structural, or developmental abnormalities in the middle spine or surrounding areas.

    Does lumbar MRI show sacrum?

    In brief: Lumbar spine MRI. Typically includes images from the 11th or 12th thoracic vertebra through the mid sacrum. Unless specifically requested, a lumbar spine MRI will not include the lower part of the sacrum or coccyx.

    What is a spine MRI with contrast?

    A spine MRI with contrast is a magnetic resonance imaging test, which produces images of the spine to facilitate the diagnosis of medical conditions. The contrast material, which is commonly gadolinium , may be swallowed or injected to allow the doctor to more clearly detect potential problems.