MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF SPINAL INFECTIONS

The manifestations of infectious disease of the spine are numerous. Vi ruses commonly affect the spinal cord and meninges, while tuberculosis and various bacterial and fungal organisms may involve the vertebrae, intervertebral disks, epidural and paraspinal regions, the leptomenin ges, and, rarely, the cord itself. Magnetic resonance imaging, with it s multiplanar capability and superb contrast resolution, is definitely the modality of choice in evaluating the patient with suspected infec tion of the spinal column or spinal cord and its coverings. The additi on of postcontrast images is often helpful in the differential diagnos is.