Lumbar Spine MRI

MRI of the lumbar spine (lower back) covering the five lumbar vertebrae, sacrum, intervertebral discs, spinal canal, and cauda equina. The primary imaging investigation for lower back pain, sciatica, and suspected disc herniation.

Lumbar spine MRI is the most frequently requested spinal scan and the gold-standard investigation for lower back pain -- a condition affecting up to 80% of adults at some point in their lives. At AGEL Praha, the scan covers the lumbar vertebrae L1 through L5, the lumbosacral junction, intervertebral discs, the spinal canal and its contents (the cauda equina at lumbar level, as the spinal cord typically terminates at L1-L2), exiting nerve roots, facet joints, and the paraspinal soft tissues. The Siemens MAGNETOM Sola 1.5T scanner produces high-contrast images that allow the radiologist to identify disc herniations (both contained protrusions and extruded fragments), spinal canal stenosis, spondylolisthesis (vertebral slippage), facet joint arthropathy, Modic changes in the vertebral endplates, and compression fractures. These findings directly inform treatment decisions -- from conservative management with physiotherapy to targeted epidural injections or surgical referral. The L4-L5 and L5-S1 segments are the most commonly affected levels for disc herniation, and the scan provides detailed views of the neural foramina where nerve roots exit, allowing precise identification of the compressed structure causing radicular leg pain (sciatica). No preparation is required. The 30-minute examination is performed supine with a spine coil positioned beneath the lower back. The wide 70cm bore reduces claustrophobia concerns. Results are typically reported within standard clinical timeframes, and images can be provided on CD for 200 CZK. For international patients, Prague's lumbar MRI pricing at 8,800 CZK (approximately EUR 360) represents substantial savings compared to the EUR 500-800 typically charged in Western Europe. The Vinohrady clinic is centrally located near Náměstí Míru, accessible by metro line A.