Lumbar Spine MRI

Native 3T MRI of the lumbosacral spine covering L1-S1 discs, nerve roots, cauda equina, and facet joints. The most common spinal examination for lower back pain and sciatica.

The lumbosacral spine MRI provides detailed imaging of the lumbar vertebrae, intervertebral discs, spinal canal, and neural foramina from L1 through S1. At 3 Tesla the scanner produces high-contrast images that clearly delineate disc herniations from adjacent neural structures, which is critical for surgical planning. The protocol includes sagittal T1, T2, and STIR sequences plus axial T2-weighted images through each disc level. The STIR sequence is sensitive to bone marrow oedema, which may indicate acute vertebral fractures, infection, or inflammatory spondyloarthropathy (such as ankylosing spondylitis). The radiologist documents disc morphology at every level, grades any central or foraminal stenosis, and notes facet joint and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. As a single-region scan this is priced at EUR 270. For patients with symptoms spanning multiple spinal levels, the entire spine package at EUR 600 covers cervical, thoracic, and lumbar segments together.