Is Mr myelography an essential pulse sequence in MR imaging of the lumbosacral spine?

ABSTRACT

MRI has become the golden modality for imaging the lumbar spine in degenerative disease. Imaging of the intradural nerve root fibers represented the last weak point in MR studies when radiologist became uncertain whether the root is being compressed or not. The new pulse sequences aiming to visualize the intradural nerve root by strongly increasing the signal intensity of the surrounding CSF [i.e. MR radiculogram] should be included in lumbosacral MR studies to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the examination