Spine trauma: MRI pitfalls

Abstract

Spinal trauma is a potentially devastating injury, and imaging is frequently required to assess its nature and extent. While computed tomography is often the primary imaging modality used, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly employed for imaging patients with acute spinal trauma, particularly if there is a need to assess the cord, soft tissues, or bone marrow. In most cases, the MRI diagnosis is usually straightforward, but there are a few normal variants, as well as some pathological entities, that can cause diagnostic confusion in interpretation. Familiarity on the part of the radiologist with some of these diagnostic pitfalls will aid in the assessment and management of the patient with acute spinal trauma undergoing MRI evaluation.