Spine MRI — One Segment

Self-pay MRI of one spinal segment (cervical, thoracic or lumbar) at Sagena Frýdek-Místek. The scan is the gold standard for diagnosing disc herniation, nerve root compression, degenerative disc disease, spinal canal tumours, vertebral metastases and inflammatory or degenerative disease of the spinal cord. Performed on Siemens 1.5T or 3T scanners with Deep Resolve AI, with self-pay appointments typically within 24–72 hours and a transparent per-segment price.

Back and neck pain are among the most common reasons for imaging, and MRI is the only modality that shows the intervertebral discs, nerve roots, spinal cord and surrounding soft tissues directly — without the radiation of CT. Sagena prices spine MRI transparently per segment: cervical, thoracic or lumbar, each 6,000 Kč, so a clinically targeted scan stays affordable while broader coverage can be combined as needed. **What it can show:** disc bulges and herniations and whether they contact or compress a nerve root (the usual cause of sciatica or arm radiculopathy), spinal canal stenosis, degenerative endplate and facet changes, vertebral fractures including those hard to see on X-ray, inflammatory conditions such as spondylodiscitis, tumours within the spinal canal, vertebral metastases, and diseases of the spinal cord itself, including demyelination in multiple sclerosis. **The examination** lasts roughly 20–40 minutes depending on the segment. You lie still on your back; the scanner's noise is dampened with headphones or earplugs. Contrast is added only for specific questions such as suspected tumour or post-operative scar versus recurrent herniation. The 3T VIDA option provides higher-resolution images of fine structures, useful for subtle cord pathology, while the 1.5T Avanto Fit is a proven workhorse for routine spine imaging — the radiology team allocates the appropriate scanner and protocol. **Booking and safety:** self-pay patients book online without a referral, with slots from 24 hours and a 72-hour guarantee. Standard contraindications apply (pacemaker, neurostimulator, cochlear implant, certain clips, eye metal, insulin pump, first-trimester pregnancy). Orthopaedic hardware in place over 6 weeks is generally safe but causes local artefacts — report it when booking so the protocol can be adapted.