MRI Spine

MRI of the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine on a 3-Tesla Philips Ingenia scanner. Each spinal region is imaged as a separate examination, producing detailed cross-sectional views of vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs, spinal cord, nerve roots, and surrounding soft tissues. The scan identifies disc herniations, spinal stenosis, degenerative changes, fractures, and tumours without ionising radiation.

Spinal MRI is the gold-standard imaging modality for evaluating back and neck pain, radiculopathy, and suspected spinal cord pathology. The 3-Tesla field strength at Dr. MAGNET's Bratislava centres provides superior resolution of the spinal cord, nerve roots, and disc material compared to lower-field systems, which is particularly relevant for detecting subtle disc protrusions and foraminal stenosis. The examination covers one spinal region per scan — cervical, thoracic, or lumbar — with each region priced identically at EUR 380. Patients requiring assessment of multiple regions can book consecutive scans. The protocol includes sagittal and axial T1 and T2-weighted sequences, with additional STIR (short-tau inversion recovery) sequences that suppress fat signal and highlight oedema, inflammation, and acute fractures. The wide 70 cm bore on both Bratislava scanners accommodates patients up to 250 kg, addressing a common concern for larger individuals who may not fit comfortably in standard MRI tunnels. The bore length is 162 cm, shorter than many older-generation scanners, which reduces the enclosed feeling and helps patients who experience mild claustrophobia. Contrast enhancement is available as an add-on at approximately EUR 130 when post-surgical changes or suspected tumours need further characterisation.