Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred diagnostic imaging technique for persistent axial spine pain with radicular symptoms if they are potential candidates for surgery or epidural steroid injection. Computed axial tomography (CT) imaging for the spine may be preferred for bony abnormalities as well as in those patients that cannot tolerate MRI or have a contraindication for MRI scan. Due to poor correlation between magnitude of pain symptoms and morphologic changes seen on spinal imaging, a thorough clinical exam is vital for appropriate treatment.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Suggested Reading
Boden SD, Davis DO, Dina TS, et al. Abnormal magnetic-resonance scans of the lumbar spine in asymptomatic subjects. A prospective investigation. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1990;72(3):403–8.
Chou R, Qaseem A, Snow V, Casey D, Cross T, Shekelle P, Owens D; Clinical Efficacy Assessment Subcommittee of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Physicians/American Pain Society Low Back Pain Guidelines Panel*. Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain: a joint clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society. Ann Intern Med. 2007;147(7):478–91. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-147-7-200710020-00006.
Jarvik JG, Deyo RA. Diagnostic evaluation of low back pain with emphasis on imaging. Ann Intern Med. 2002;137:586–97.
Rinck P. Magnetic resonance in medicine. The basic textbook of the European Magnetic Resonance Forum. 8th ed. 2014. E-version 8.9 (April 2015).
Thornbury JR, Fryback DG, Turski PA, Javid MJ, McDonald JV, Beinlich BR, et al. Disc-caused nerve compression in patients with acute low-back pain: diagnosis with MR, CT myelography, and plain CT. Radiology. 1993;186:731–8.
Van Goethem J, Parizel P, Jinkins J. Review article: MRI of the postoperative lumbar spine. Neuroradiology. 2002;44(9):723–39.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Azeem, N. (2017). Indications/Interpretation for Advanced Imaging: MRI and CT. In: Pope, J., Deer, T. (eds) Treatment of Chronic Pain Conditions. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6976-0_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6976-0_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6974-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6976-0
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)