Introduction: MRI is the modality of choice for evaluation of the spine. MRI is usually prescribed for a specific region of the spine according to clinical symptoms, be it cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine segments. A new technological development allows for whole spine T2 screening sequences in the sagittal plane without excessive time delay. This technique enables us to detect abnormalities in other regions of the spine.
Purpose: Find the prevalence of incidental spine findings on T2 whole spine sagittal MRI screening performed for lumbar spinal disorders in order to decide whether whole spine screening is beneficial.
Methods: 664 consecutive patients were evaluated in our center between September 2018 and December 2018. All MR sagittal images of whole spine were interpreted by either a neuroradiologist or a spine surgeon. Only incidental findings in the spine thought to be significant were documented.
Results: A total of 664 T2-weighted whole spine sagittal MR images were included in the study, of those 331 females, 333 males. 107 patients out of the 664 patients included in the study had significant incidental findings (16.1%). One in 10 patients who underwent MR imaging of the lumbar spine in our institution had anatomical variations in the number of lumbar spine vertebrae. The prevalence of incidental findings was statistically more significant in patients who were older than 18. We were unable to demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between finding in the lumbar spine (disc bulge, disc herniation, spinal stenosis) and any of the incidental findings.
Conclusions: T2-weighted MR screening of whole spine is useful in detecting incidental spinal abnormalities and efficient at revealing anatomical variations in the lumbar spine.
