Why you should get a 3T of the spine.

[jensequitur]

I know I go on and on about this.  I can't think of a better way to illustrate my point than to show two MRIs - one at .7T, and one at 3T.

The .7T MRI report said that I had mild degenerative disc of the spine.  

Here's what the 3T MRI report said: (Tspine) Findings: There are no previous studies available for comparison.  Evaluation of the thoracic canal shows no evidence for spinal stenosis.  Visualized best on the STIR sequence in the lower thoracic cord there is an area of abnormality consistent with a vocal area of demyelination.  This lesion is approximately 13 mm in length and is situated within the midaspect of the thoracic cord.  There are similar subtle lesions predominately dorsally located within the upper cord, which are much less conspicuous.  There is no pathological contrast enhancement.  There is no evidece of any significant extra-axial disease.  There are mild degenerative changes in the thoracic spine.  The dominant lesion is located at the T10-T11 level.  No other significant findings.

[jensequitur]

The reason I brought this up was that yes, you can see lesions on a .7T, and you can see lesions on a 1.5T.  Even with incredible software (not really very much chance of that if you aren't in a large urban area) a 1.5T with a qualified radiologist is still inferior to a 3T machine with a qualified radiologist.  

IMO, your standard 3T machine will already have better software than your standard 1.5T machine.

It won't let me post another picture to this thread, but maybe I can post it in another thread that'll help.

[jensequitur]

Kelly, I'd finally had enough, and went to my neurologist with two MRI clinics in the area that did 3T MRIs.  I told them 'pick one.'  The neurologist seemed a little off-put, but he did say I had the right to pick the kind of MRI I wanted.  I would do the research, and go in there with the clinic you want in hand.  Oh, and make sure they take your insurance!

[jensequitur]

Tammy, I've done a c-spine, but on a 1.5T MRI.  It showed nothing.  I tried very hard not to swallow while they were doing the scans - I think there was some motion artifact.

[maxthecat43]

I had that series done on the 3T a few weeks ago.  I wasn't able to fight the swallowing problem for the c-spine.  How did you do it?  I have to do mine over again- but I have no idea how I will do better this time.  

Any advice?
Tammy

[SarahL2491]

well I can't have T3 MRIs, that is, IF I agree to another (the last one with the pacemaker scared me very much) so am stuck with the lower ones.  Sorta envy those who can have all of those fancy machines!

[anon07072023]

Thanks Jen.  Now tell me the trick to get your neuro to order a 3T spinal MRI?

Out of 3 neuros, I have yet to convince any of them to order one for me.  If you look at my profile, you can see my spinal lesions plain as day.

The one at T9-10 was seen by my 1st radiologist & neuro 3 yrs ago. And then missed by all the subsequent radiologists.  The 2nd neuro looked at my scans himself and saw the lesion (even though the radiologist didn't see it).  

When I went to my current neuro, she ran MRIs. The radiologist missed it again. And when I pointed it out to her on my MRI, she says there's nothing there. I CAN SEE IT! But since the radiologist didn't put it in the report - and he's the specialist - it doesn't exist.  So...now they say I have no spinal lesions which is absolutely not true - especially if you add in my symptoms.  

[supermum_ms]

http://www.medhelp.org/tags/health_page/7687/Multiple-Sclerosis/Spinal-Cord-Lesions?hp_id=764

oops i forgot to put up the health page on cord lesions

[supermum_ms]

You make a good point with simplicity, "a picture paints a thousand words" and i have to agree that it probably does take an expert to see spinal lesions, its a lot harder to see a lesion on a spinal MRI when compaired to brain, spinals just look like a whitish smudge, errrr well thats with my eyes. lol

I've only ever had one set of 1.5T MRI's (spine & brain) i was struggling not to laughing through the spinal so not sure how good they are, can only see 2 out of all that they took but still blurry compaired to your 3T lol

I've been convinced i have spinal lesions since my big bang, hard not to when you walk like a human string puppet, HUG, unilateral hyperflex left leg, clonus, a numb patch on my left breast and a couple of other things that can also be related to spinal lesions lol along with everything else i've got going for me because of the ones in my brain ;o)

I've made some enquiries about 3T MRI's, over here (oz) they are difficult to find, but i've found a private clinic and still waiting to hear back from them, my fingers are crossed. Though i still recall a discussion we had on here about a 1.5T with the latest software being just as good, though all the details of it i couldn't say.

Anyhooo thanks for making sure a simplistic point of why the strength of the MRI makes such a difference!

Cheers..............JJ

[jensequitur]

What's funny is you can see the lesions in both films.  But the radiologist at the .7T MRI clinic wasn't looking as closely as he could have.  Bob is right that a well-trained radiologist is important, but I think having a 3T MRI and a well-trained radiologist is the best way to go.