These body regions might be evaluated separately or in combination as guided by physical examination findings, patient history, and other available information, including prior imaging. MRI Spine Area of Interest Because of its excellent tissue characterization and anatomic delineation, MRI without and with IV contrast is often utilized for the evaluation of patients with suspected spine infection [3,7,14,16,24,37,51]. MRI without and with IV contrast has a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 94% for the evaluation of patients with suspected spine infection [3,7,14,16,24,37,51]. MRI also provides optimal depiction of the intraspinal contents, including the epidural space and the spinal cord [6,17,18]. The use of IV contrast increases lesion conspicuity, characterized by foci of abnormal soft tissue enhancement and peripherally enhancing fluid collections within and/or surrounding the affected spinal segment, and also helps to define the extent of the infectious process [3]. MRI can be performed as the next imaging study when the initial radiographs and/or CT examination show abnormal findings that may be indicative of spine infection. MRI when performed without IV contrast may have utility, because it can show findings that are suggestive of possible spine infection, including marrow or paraspinal muscle edema, abnormal fluid collections, areas of abnormal signal, abnormality within the intervertebral disc, and adjacent vertebral endplates and gross structural abnormalities of the involved spine segment(s) [3,10,14,16,17,30,63-66,69]. MRI performed with IV contrast only is not considered to be useful because the precontrast MRI study is required for comparison in order to confirm areas of suspected abnormality within the spine segment(s) of interest. The presence and extent or the absence of contrast enhancement are important imaging features in suspected spinal infection and are best evaluated by comparing the pre- and postcontrast MRI examinations.
Suspected Spine Infection PCAs. These body regions might be evaluated separately or in combination as guided by physical examination findings, patient history, and other available information, including prior imaging. MRI Spine Area of Interest Because of its excellent tissue characterization and anatomic delineation, MRI without and with IV contrast is often utilized for the evaluation of patients with suspected spine infection [3,7,14,16,24,37,51]. MRI without and with IV contrast has a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 94% for the evaluation of patients with suspected spine infection [3,7,14,16,24,37,51]. MRI also provides optimal depiction of the intraspinal contents, including the epidural space and the spinal cord [6,17,18]. The use of IV contrast increases lesion conspicuity, characterized by foci of abnormal soft tissue enhancement and peripherally enhancing fluid collections within and/or surrounding the affected spinal segment, and also helps to define the extent of the infectious process [3]. MRI can be performed as the next imaging study when the initial radiographs and/or CT examination show abnormal findings that may be indicative of spine infection. MRI when performed without IV contrast may have utility, because it can show findings that are suggestive of possible spine infection, including marrow or paraspinal muscle edema, abnormal fluid collections, areas of abnormal signal, abnormality within the intervertebral disc, and adjacent vertebral endplates and gross structural abnormalities of the involved spine segment(s) [3,10,14,16,17,30,63-66,69]. MRI performed with IV contrast only is not considered to be useful because the precontrast MRI study is required for comparison in order to confirm areas of suspected abnormality within the spine segment(s) of interest. The presence and extent or the absence of contrast enhancement are important imaging features in suspected spinal infection and are best evaluated by comparing the pre- and postcontrast MRI examinations.