Full Spine MRI

Complete MRI of the entire spinal column — cervical, thoracic, and lumbar segments in a single session. This combined scan provides a comprehensive assessment of all vertebral levels, intervertebral discs, the spinal cord, and nerve roots from the skull base to the sacrum.

The full spine MRI combines three separate scan regions — cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), and lumbar (lower back) — into a single appointment. This is particularly useful when the clinical presentation suggests pathology that may span multiple spinal levels, such as multilevel degenerative disc disease, inflammatory spondyloarthropathy (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis), or when screening for spinal metastases. Each segment is acquired with dedicated sagittal and axial sequences optimised for the anatomy of that region. The cervical spine assessment evaluates the spinal cord calibre, disc-osteophyte complexes, and foraminal stenosis. The thoracic spine is assessed for disc pathology (less common but clinically significant when present), vertebral body compression fractures, and cord compression. The lumbar spine assessment covers the same pathology as the standalone lumbar MRI — disc herniation, stenosis, facet arthropathy, and nerve root compression. Because this is three scans in one session, the total time in the scanner is approximately 60-75 minutes. The combined tariff represents the sum of the thoracic and lumbar components. Patients should be prepared for a longer scan and communicate any claustrophobia or discomfort concerns to the technologist beforehand.