unusual disease processes in their area of expertise.what the clinicians and/or surgeons will be looking for.These types of relationships will, in turn, provide a beneficial feedback loop.įor example, a subspecialty radiologist will often have a greater depth of knowledge when it comes to: Usually, this means that the radiologist will develop a close working relationship with the surgeons and clinicians who are ordering the examinations. In a practice, a subspecialty radiologist often reads more studies that fall under their specific expertise than a general radiologist will because of their unique training. Their extensive experience allows them to develop a deep familiarity with the different appearances of disease and injury. Subspecialty radiologists receive extra training for one or more years in their selected area of study and have additional expertise in looking at a particular type of exam. Depending on a patient’s symptoms or condition, the best type of subspecialist for a cervical MRI is either a radiologist specializing in neuroradiology or a radiologist specializing in musculoskeletal radiology. While any board-certified radiologist is eligible to read a cervical MRI, these types of exams are often complex and require the expertise of a subspecialist. NEXT UP: Patient Story Feature – How a Spine MRI Second Opinion Led to a Proper Diagnosis 3) Make sure your cervical MRI is interpreted by the appropriate subspecialist. Another pitfall may be in misinterpreting an abnormality of the spinal cord as one disease process when it may represent another, as several entities that affect the cord share a similar appearance with subtle differences. In my experience, a pitfall in interpreting a cervical MRI can be concentrating on the larger structures centrally, such as the spinal cord and center of the disc, and missing smaller or subtle peripheral findings – which may also cause pain or symptoms, such as arthritis in the joints of the spine or edema (swelling) of the muscles. These artifacts need to be caught and not mistaken for something else by the interpreting radiologist. Each sequence of images must be interpreted both separately and then together, requiring a lot of time and expertise.Īn MRI exam can also be more prone to artifacts (a feature that appears in an image but is not actually present – this can occur as a result of a patient’s movement during the exam, for example). 2) Different abnormalities/entities that affect the spinal cord can share a similar appearance on a cervical MRI.Ī cervical MRI is a more complicated examination to read than a CT scan because it involves multiple different sequences that each have different properties and shows the tissues slightly differently. It is also the preferred modality to look for subtle bone marrow edema.Ĭervical spine MRI is used to help diagnose conditions of the spinal cord itself, degeneration of the discs and vertebrae/backbones (which can lead to problems with the nerves and cord), and problems of the surrounding structures like muscles and ligaments. MRI is better at visualizing and discriminating soft tissues, such as the spinal cord, muscles, ligaments, and discs. One of the major strengths of CT is its ability to visualize bone and calcium. A cervical MRI is a longer exam but does not use radiation, eliminating any concerns of exposure. While a cervical CT involves some radiation exposure, it is superior to a cervical MRI in regard to the speed of the exam. A cervical MRI, on the other hand, uses magnets and radiofrequency energy to produce detailed images of the upper spine. A cervical CT uses x-rays to create a visual model of the upper spine. Each type of scan has unique strengths and limitations. 1) A cervical MRI is best at examining soft tissues, such as the spinal cord, muscles, ligaments, and discs.īoth MRI and CT are used to evaluate the neck and spinal cord.

If you would like an expert second opinion on your medical imaging from one of our fellowship-trained subspecialty radiologists, you can learn more here. Gaetano Pastena, a leading neuroradiologist and assistant professor at Albany Medical Center, to find out what patients should know before and after getting a cervical MRI.ĭocPanel is committed to making sure every patient receives excellent care. But imaging of the neck is complex, requiring specific expertise to be interpreted accurately.

If you are experiencing pain or other symptoms in your neck or upper back, it is likely your doctor will ask you to get a cervical MRI. It can detect a variety of conditions affecting the upper spine, as well as structural abnormalities like tumors, and problems in the soft tissues within the spinal column, including the spinal cord, nerves, and disks. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine is an important tool used to evaluate the neck and seven cervical spine bones.

Abnormal cervical spine x ray