Cervical MRI

Your healthcare practitioner may order this test if you show the following symptoms:

• Severe pain in the neck, arm or shoulder that does not subside after treatment
• Neck pain with symptoms like leg weakness or numbness

The test may also be done to detect conditions such as:

• Birth defects of the spine
• Injury to the spine
• Infection or tumour in the spine
• Arthritis in the spine

The test may also be done before or after spine surgery.

Most people can safely undergo an MRI. However, this test may not be recommended if you have any of the following:

• Pregnancy: MRI scans are not usually recommended during pregnancy.
• Metal implants or fragments: You may not be allowed to undergo the test if you have metal implants or fragments. However, the medical staff will decide the safety of a scan on a case-by-case basis, as it is possible to make some implants (such as pacemakers) MRI-safe.
• Tattoos: Some tattoos contain traces of metal due to which you may feel discomfort or heat in your tattoo during the scan.

You may be instructed not to eat/drink for up to six hours before the test. Please inform your healthcare practitioner and the radiologist if you have any of the following:

• Heart pacemaker/defibrillator
• Ear implants
• Programmable shunts
• Stents (not in the heart)
• Electronic/implanted stimulators or devices
• Implanted drug pumps
• Aneurysm clips and coils
• Filters, such as blood clot filters
• Metal fragments in the body, like bullets, shrapnel or other metal pieces
• Pregnancy
• Unable to lie on the stomach for an hour

If you have a fear of closed spaces, you may be given a mild sedative that will make you sleepy and less anxious.

Leave all jewellery and valuables like keys, watches, etc. at home, as they cannot be taken inside the MRI room.

An MRI scan usually involves the following steps:

• The radiographer will instruct you to remove all metal objects, including dentures and wigs, before entering the scan room.
• They may ask you to wear a hospital gown.
• You will have to lie on a bed, which will slide into the MRI scanner.
• The procedure may require a dye (contrast), which will be given through a vein in your arm before the test. The contrast helps to see certain areas more clearly.
• You will have to lie very still, as movements can blur/distort the pictures. The test usually lasts for 30-60 minutes but can take longer.

The procedure generally causes no pain. You may feel that the bed is hard or cold. If so, you can ask for a blanket or pillow. The machine makes loud noises during the procedure, but you will be provided earplugs to block out the noise. You may feel some warmth during the test, which is completely normal.

If a contrast dye is given to you during the test, you may feel a cool sensation as it is being injected into the intravenous line.

A normal result indicates that the part of the spine and nearby nerves present in the neck appear normal. 

Abnormal results may be due to:

• Cervical radiculopathy (slipped disc)
• Cervical spondylosis (abnormal wear of the bones and cartilages in the neck)
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the cervical spine)
• Osteomyelitis (infection of the bone)
• Infection of the spine
• Spinal cord injury or compression
• Spinal tumour
• Degenerative changes due to age
• Discitis (inflammation of the disc)
• Multiple sclerosis (inflammation of the covering of nerves)
• Spinal fracture

The following risks are associated with this test:

• Allergic reaction to the contrast (which is rare).
• Malfunction of metal implants: The strong magnets present in the MRI machine may cause pacemakers and other metal implants to malfunction or move/shift inside the body. 
• The contrast used may be harmful to people with kidney diseases that require dialysis.

The benefits associated with the test include:

• Generally painless
• Does not use radiation
• Gives detailed diagnostic pictures

You will be able to leave soon after the test and continue with your daily activities. However, if a sedative was given:

• You must not drive a car or use public transport.
• Make sure you have someone with you for 24 hours after the test is performed.
• Avoid operating machinery on the day of the test.

A contrast dye may be administered during the MRI to improve the clarity of certain areas.c The dye is usually used in conditions such as suspected severe soft tissue injury as these cannot be seen on an MRI without contrast. Contrast is not necessary for the diagnosis of conditions like oedema, hematoma, etc.

The dye will be administered as an injection or through a vein in your arm. When the technician injects the contrast, you may feel a cool sensation. In rare cases, a person may have an allergic reaction to the dye. If a person has kidney disease and requires dialysis, the contrast may be harmful to them.

Additional tests that may be conducted along with this test include:

• Nerve conduction velocity
• Electromyography
• Biopsy
• PET

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.