Evaluation of a MR‐quadrupole imaging coil for spinal interventions in a vertical 1.0 T MRI

Abstract

The in vivo pain treatment was successfully performed with the patient in a prone position. The PD‐weighted TSE with echo time = 10 ms rendered contrast‐to‐noise‐ratio values of 27 ± 10 for needle/fat, 1.6 ± 5 for needle/muscle, and 4 ± 4.7 for needle/nerve tissue. The mean diameter of the needle artifact was 1.2 ± 0.2 mm. In the T1‐weighted gradient echo, the needle's artifact diameter was 6 ± 2 mm; the needle's contrast‐to‐noise ratio relative to muscle tissue was 4 ± 2, 7.6 ± 1.5 for needle/fat, and 5 ± 1 for needle/nerve tissue. With the PD‐weighted TSE (echo time = 10 ms) and the T1‐weighted gradient echo, the needle was imaged reliably throughout the intervention. The butterfly surface coil is feasible for the guidance of spinal interventions in a prone patient. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

MR-guided lumbar facet radiofrequency denervation for treatment of patients with chronic low back pain in an open 1.0 Tesla MRI system

“…In our study, interventions were performed with patients in lateral position, which allows the best possible coil positioning and hence optimal signal amplification (7). In addition, an MRI quadrupole imaging coil (butterfly) was developed for spinal interventions in a vertical 1.0-T MRI system and the use of this surface coil may allow spinal interventions to be performed in a prone position comparable to CT (21). Prone positioning ensures access to a larger area for spinal interventions and might be more familiar to interventionalists, especially to those with little to moderate experience.…”