MRI Spine Case Study

Courtesy of:  P. Mak, Dr, D. Lu Dr, PAVC
Hong Kong China

September 27, 2004

Background

• Male mongrel dog, about 3 years old
• Started 1 month of gradual onset progressive hind limb weakness and lumbar pain
• Meloxicam and acupuncture therapy have only mild improvements
• Neurological examination showed symptoms of hamstring atrophy, hind limb weakness with proprioceptive deficiency, and poor pedal reflexes, caudal lumbar pain

System

• Imaging performed on Panorama 0.23T using Synergy Extremity coil

Methods

• T2w TSE and T2w STIR Sagittal
• T1w TSE w/ and w/o contrast agent
• B-FFE 3D

Images

T2 STIR Sagittal FOV 32 cm TR 4800ms TE 90ms TI 90ms Slice Thk 4.0mm Matrix 256 Scan time 07:41 min

T2w TSE Sagittal FOV 34cm TR 4000ms TE 120ms ST 3.0mm Matrix 256 Scan time 05:12 min

T2/T1w B-FFE 3D Sagittal FOV 32cm TR 7.0ms TE 3.5ms Slice Thk 3.0mm Matrix 436 Scan time 03:33 min

T1w TSE Sagittal FOV 32cm TR 300ms TE 17ms Slice Thk 4.0mm Matrix 256 Scan time 04:19 min

T2w TSE Transverse FOV 18cm TR 5400ms, TE 96ms Slice Thk 5.0mm, Matrix 256 Scan time 06:29 min

B-FFE 3D Transverse FOV 18cm TR 9.4ms, TE 4.7ms Slice Thk 2.7mm, Matrix 384 Scan time 06:25 min

T1w TSE axials with Intravenous Contrast Agent FOV 18cm TR 550ms, TE 16ms Slice Thk 4.0mm, Matrix 324x384 Scan time 07:55 min

MRI:

• Expansion and loss of normal parenchyma in the lumbosacral cord segment
• Patchy enhancement post contrast T1
• An intraparencymal fluid – filled cavity rostral to the lesion suggestive of syringo-hydromyelia

Therapy:

• Started cortisone (Prednisolone) treatment

• In veterinary imaging animals are sedated
• Monitoring of the “patient” is done visually and direct eye contact is essential
• Panorama 0.23T is a suitable scanner for veterinary imaging