Extradural Spinal Cord/Cauda Equina Compression

Clinical signs and symptoms suggesting acute or subacute compression of the spinal cord or cauda equina constitute a medical emergency requiring urgent diagnosis in order to effect appropriate therapy for alleviating the pathologic process responsible for the compressive phenomenon. The purpose of MR imaging in such cases is to determine the level(s), degree, and, if possible, the type of disease process in order to assist in therapeutic planning gauged toward relieving the neurologic compression. This unit presents a basic protocol for conventional and fast spin echo imaging of spine for such cases. Two alternate protocols are presented for cases where it is necessary to distinguish between the spinal cord and the extradural tissue comprising this structure.