Spine MRI

Spine MRI at Klinika Dr. Pírka uses the Siemens Magnetom Sola 1.5T system in the hospital's 2023 imaging pavilion, led by MUDr. Zuzana Ryznarová, Ph.D. The department covers all three spinal segments — cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), and lumbar (lower back) — and is the imaging standard for disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, nerve root compression, spondylosis, and pre-surgical planning. The 70 cm bore of the Sola provides a more comfortable experience for patients with acute back pain who need to remain still in the scanner. Being embedded in a full hospital with on-site neurology and orthopaedics means scan results can be rapidly acted upon without needing to transfer to another centre.

Klinika Dr. Pírka's spine MRI service is performed on the Siemens Magnetom Sola 1.5T in the purpose-built imaging pavilion opened May 2023. The Sola system is well-suited to spinal imaging — its 70 cm bore allows comfortable positioning of the full lumbar curve without the lordosis-flattening discomfort that occurs in narrower older tunnels, while the BioMatrix adaptive technology optimises coil placement for consistent signal uniformity along the full spinal column. The clinic performs imaging across all three spinal segments: cervical spine (C1–C7, including craniovertebral junction when requested), thoracic spine (T1–T12), and lumbar spine (L1–S1, including the sacrum and sacroiliac joints when indicated). In clinical practice, most requests are for the lumbar spine (lower back pain, sciatica, disc herniation, spinal stenosis) and the cervical spine (neck pain, arm radiculopathy, myelopathy). Thoracic spine imaging is less commonly requested but is indicated for mid-back pain, suspected thoracic cord compression, or vertebral fracture evaluation. Standard spinal MRI protocols at 1.5T include sagittal T1-weighted, sagittal T2-weighted (CSF appears bright, allowing clear visualisation of thecal sac compression), axial T2-weighted through relevant levels, and STIR (short-tau inversion recovery) for bone marrow oedema detection. Gadolinium contrast enhancement is added for post-operative cases (to distinguish scar tissue from recurrent disc herniation), suspected epidural abscess, spinal tumours, or inflammatory myelitis. Common indications include acute and chronic low back pain with or without sciatica, suspected lumbar disc herniation (L4/L5, L5/S1 most common), lumbar spinal stenosis causing neurogenic claudication, cervical disc disease with arm pain or tingling, myelopathy (cord signal change), vertebral compression fractures (osteoporotic or traumatic), infection (discitis, spondylodiscitis), and pre-surgical planning for the orthopaedic team on the same campus. The orthopaedic department at Klinika Dr. Pírka — led by MUDr. Roman Lehovec in the robotic joint replacement program — works closely with the MRI department, and neurological cases are served by the on-site neurology outpatient clinic. This in-house referral loop means spine MRI results can feed directly into a surgical or physiotherapy treatment plan without the patient visiting multiple sites. The physiotherapy team, led by Kateřina Pelcová (trained in Swiss and German clinics), can also receive MRI reports to guide individualized rehabilitation programs. Preparation for spinal MRI is simple. No fasting is required for non-contrast studies. Patients with acute back pain are advised to take any prescribed analgesics before the examination to be able to remain still during the 25–40 minute scan. Loose, comfortable clothing without metal fasteners simplifies dressing for the scan. For gadolinium contrast: fast 4 hours prior, and inform the team if you have impaired renal function (contrast clearance is reduced in renal insufficiency). Remove all metallic jewellery, body piercings, and any removable dental hardware. Declare any implanted spinal instrumentation (titanium pedicle screws, fusion hardware, disc arthroplasties) — most modern titanium implants are MRI-conditional, but the implant data sheet or a surgeon's letter confirming MRI-safety is required. Pump-driven drug delivery systems (e.g., intrathecal baclofen pumps) must be evaluated before scanning. Self-pay bookings are made via the MRI line (+420 326 375 470, Mon–Fri 9:00–15:00) or by email to [email protected]. A written report by MUDr. Ryznarová, Ph.D. is included in the fee and typically ready within a few working days. Images are provided digitally on CD or by email.