[DRAGON]

#8675

Dear Dr. Corenman

I would like to ask about MRI localizer images
I had a scan a year ago and obtained a copy of the disk . Some images there resembled T2 fat suppressed saggital images and a significantly brighter section within the spinal cord at the level of the spondylosis. I have recently learned that this was only a localiser image/s and the hospital have told me such images are just preliminary images of low quality and not of clinical value diagnostically speaking.
Why might one end up with what looks like a large patch of signal change in the spinal cord on a localiser and would one always disregard that ? Save to say the ‘axial’ images apparently look fine.
Somewhat confused about the localiser and its limitations although I’m pleased to have learned the images could be disregarded

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#8694

MRI localizer images are just that, a general location tool for aligning the scan plane. The important images include T1, T2 and STIR images that are sagittal and axial with occasional coronal scans. If something is seen on the localizer but not on the standard images, this information is thrown out as it is usually due to field distortion.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

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