The Role of MRI in the Diagnostic Approach to Spinal Cord Compression

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine is a powerful tool for the evaluation, assessment of severity, and follow-up of diseases of the spine. Spinal cord diseases often have devastating consequences. Aim: To identify various aetiologies associated with spinal cord compression. To locate the site of lesion (intramedullary / intradural - extramedullary / extradural). To illustrate the characteristic MRI signs in those various pathologies. To describe the important aspects of MRI techniques in the assessment of spinal cord compression. Methods of collection of data: our study is a descriptive study carried out on 50 patients visiting the OPD / IPD referred to MRI scan to the Department of Radio diagnosis, Rangaraya medical college, Kakinada in stipulated period from December 2020 t0 November 2021. Result: study conducted on 50 patients of spinal cord compression; traumatic myelopathy is seen in 21 patients (42%), infectious cause in 12 patients (24%), metastases in 9 patients (18%) and primary neoplasms in 8 cases (16%). In our study trauma is the most common cause of spinal cord compression. Conclusion: Magnetic resonance imaging is an excellent modality for imaging pathologic processes involving the spine. It permits high-resolution imaging of not only the osseous structures but also the soft-tissue structures in multiple orthogonal planes through the use of varying pulse sequences that allow for characterization of the different tissues in and around the spine.