Thoracic Spine MRI

MRI of the thoracic spine (T1-T12) evaluating disc disease, compression fractures, cord abnormalities, and demyelinating conditions in the longest spinal segment.

The thoracic spine MRI covers the twelve thoracic vertebrae, their intervertebral discs, the thoracic spinal cord, and the costovertebral junctions. While disc herniations are less common in the thoracic spine than in the cervical or lumbar regions, thoracic pathology can cause significant myelopathy due to the relatively narrow spinal canal at this level. The protocol includes sagittal T1, T2, and STIR sequences covering the entire thoracic segment, plus axial T2-weighted images at levels of interest. The STIR sequence is particularly important here for detecting compression fractures (distinguishing acute from chronic), vertebral metastases, and inflammatory spondylitis. The radiologist also evaluates the thoracic cord for signal abnormalities that may indicate demyelination, ischaemia, or compressive myelopathy. Common indications include mid-back pain, suspected thoracic disc herniation, osteoporotic compression fracture assessment, Scheuermann's disease evaluation, and screening for spinal metastases in oncology patients. The examination also captures the thoracolumbar junction, a common site for traumatic fractures.