Running Head: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING TO DIAGNOSE LUMBAR SPINE DISEASE
(The Significance of Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Diagnose Lumbar Spine Disease)
(The Significance of Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Diagnose Lumbar Spine Disease)
In the body there is a spine that plays a pivoted role in supporting the body. According to Ballinger (1986, 286) the back bone acts as the vertebral column that is composed of the vertebra bone as well as the discs of fibro cartilage. It is composed of five main varied forms; the cervical spine, thoracic spine, the lumbar and the sacrum spine as well as the coccyx spine. Moreover, the principle function of the lumbar spine and the central vertebra concealing five vertebras the L1 to L5 is to support the human body (Ballinger 1986, 286). Moreover, the lumbar spine disc prolapsed is a known disorder that affects the human spine (Dhir 2007, 250). This condition happens as a result of poor posture and commonly observed in much elderly patients. Presently, most individuals are attributed to poor spinal injuries, spine tumours as well as abnormalities. Such problems like problems in the spine or abnormalities lead to pain. There are similarly abnormalities that are correlated and accrue from lumbar spine. Moreover, individuals attend the hospitals; to acquire the best possible care through medical technology and desire to get better with no negative impact (Ballinger 1986, 286). In the present hospitals, there are some instances of medical imaging that are applied. In the present instance, a patient who has a suspicious lumbar spine disc prolapse situation, the physicians desire that the patient should visit the CT scans or otherwise the Mr imaging. The MRI is considered the most effective technique for a lumbar spine evaluation (Fayad et al. 2009, 1). Its fame comes from its exposure of lesions that are in the spine that avail the signs (Kamath et al. 2008, 353). According to Lakshminarayanan (2009, 199), he states the signs tom be numbness and tingling in the arms and legs. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a well-established medical imaging method that has overtaken other methods that were initially used. Its uniqueness is attributed several factors since it does not expose the patient and does not have any negative ionizing radiations attributed to the fact that is founded on the basis of imaging and it involves moving of the Hydrogen atoms. Moreover to its advantage it is unique in that it is able to image the soft tissues of the boy with a high level of exactness and resolution of an isotropic 3D-acquisition (Sorantin 2008, 227). MRI is the most established as well as developed technique that is able to investigate the problems that are attributed to the spine. The application of the Magnetic Resonance imaging is becoming prominent displaying its prevalence in the presence market (Kamath et al. 2008, 353). There are a number of benefits that accrue from MRI to diagnose the lumbar spine. The first benefit that accrues to its advantageous application in a wide range of situation is the extremity of the diagnostic accuracy. According to the literature, it consists of a survey of 125 lumbar discs where all the impact was quite reliable (Fayad et al. 2008, 3). Moreover, the most desired method of imaging is MRI when handling patients who are attributed to lumbar spine problems (Runge 1992, 150). Moreover, MRI imaging has revealed a high level of accuracy and applicability in finding disc displacement when one assesses abnormalities and degeneration in the intensive look at the lumbar spine (Weishaupt et al.2001, 424). The second significance is accrued to the fact that MRI does not result to any form of radiation hazard. It does not cause any negative radiation to the patient. When one applies MRI a huge magnetic field is applied to result to an image that is used for analysing (Tamraz et al.2002, 1). MRI technique application is reliant on helium and a coil system. The advantage of using MRI is observed in the fact that it does not leave the patient prone to the risk of imaging forms like X-ray. Thirdly, the CT scanning is a well advanced method than the MR imaging and is convenient for patients. The patient lies down and is slide into the scanner.
Methodology: this paper first of all lists the importance and the common aspect of the back pain to acquire relief and manner of applying the MRI technology as a relieving tool in the acquisition and more dependable diagnostic of the lumbar spine disc disease. The research has been able to find that the use of the MRI in diagnosing the lumbar disease and the wide range of research on the topic. The bibliography has been able to present several contrasting outcomes and that it is supposed to relate to the research of false positives to examine the validity of the research that is presented. Secondly, there are also advantages in the initial knowledge of injuries and cancer. That may not be acquired without this knowledge. In relation to the research a huge level of care in the taking of the functional data on the medical situation of the patients and that which can be prepared for comparing the T1 and T2 images a perfect method is evaluated to issue an accurate study of the topic covering the patients so that approach is met. The third reason, MRI technology has made huge steps from the initial years, it is a safe but not the perfect standard one may use to evaluate most of the illnesses and injuries. The look at this is to observe if any cause for a negative can be acquired scanning using the MRI then later applied in a better technique to relook and as well issue a much better and dependable outcome to follow. There is no assurance that it is perfect evaluating lumbar spine disc diseases only as a help to conventional techniques of evaluating lower back issues it’s a better consecutive opinion with none of the radiation impacts form the assessment. Consequently, there is a bibliography of the importance of the MR imaging to solve lumbar spine diseases by looking at related articles or sources in electronic journal data base as well as other web sites that deal in medical stuff. My research based on MR imaging in the varied forms of data bases. Later after these processes, the search is much more understandable and I chose the sources or articles that were more relevant.
1.3 The most important references:
I chose several reference points and though a little confusing, I went through the abstract of the articles that I took which I found to be very useful as they provided me with a wide range of information gave me a much visible idea based on my research topic. I chose wide range of varied recent articles which would assist me to complete to complete and acquire my research objective.
3. Significant five articles:
This part of the paper is composed of the principle five articles. I considered these sources to be important for my research topic since the useful information that availed two imaging techniques of lumbar spine. Additionally, these sources are composed of a wide range of information correlated to my research topic. Additionally, there is relation about this information that the sources have and lumbar spine disease and the importance of MRI to solve the diseases. My choice of these articles was due to its provision of outcome of a study done with patients who had lumbar spine, back pain and this is the key point to my research. According to the articles, they allow access to an outcome related to my topics for that purpose I desired for the articles.
3.1 The first article is
Magnetic resonance imaging of lumbar intervertebral discs in elderly patients with minor trauma
3.1.2 Article summary and critical
This gave the disadvantage of MRI technology alone since the HIZ assumption in the T1 and T2 which may result to a false diagnosis to be gotten and therefore it needs to be considered again that previous experience of the reasoning of the back pain The experience is of an advantage in the second opinion of a skilled radiographer and the fore knowledge of present illness, current age, and minor trauma among others. May be issuing wrong diagnosis to a major disease that may be ignored for the other reasons. This paper looks at minor fractures are found in MRI scans and it was acquired from using a certain control group easy to fracture since of minor trauma of the elderly 65> years old but not to patients with major trauma in the several fractures acquired from accidents. The results showed that intensity transformation occurs to the vertebra as a result of fractures related to the fractures as a result a high intensity of image in the T1 weighted image is acquired from the related vertebra of the fracture desired to provide a wrong image. This is not a wrong predictor of T1 weighted image providing high level of intensity outcomes. It shows that even in small trauma bleeding are able to be induced even by smaller trauma in the people aged 65+ (in this study).The links to bleeding is a factor to consider when using a MRI scan other than standard fluoroscopy to treat degenerative diseases of the lumbar region as wrong images as a result of the potential haemorrhaging adjacent to a minor fracture present. As result of the age of the patents it may not be taken to be common between in all of the patients but it is considered may be a reason for errors reading of lumbar diseases. It is necessary to consider that usual methods can vary since of the aspects that are not in control of the radiographer and awareness such injuries in the investigation of back pain that accrues to a successful diagnosis of lumbar issues in the older people as per this situation this paper does not provide evidence it is the cause though there are circumstantial evidence pointing to this. A principally new technique applied in treating the back pain but additional research of the issues associated with imaging is necessary for radiographers’ experience of the impact of minor injury to the T1 and to the T2 weighted images resulting to a high level of intensity zones not initially researched. Though assumed this is the principle issue in the paper further research is required to see if the applied use of the MRI as a diagnostic tool to use for the future.
3.2 The Second article is
Reliability of a modified Modic classification of bone marrow changes in lumbar spine MRI
3.2.2 Article summary and critical
This paper wanted to acquire the reliability acquired for use of MRI when circumstances are in the best manner. As this is has represented that the experience of the radiographer is more accurate diagnosis is concerned, there is no display of any close comparison between both of the estimations availed by the junior and senior radiographer, close in comparison. There is a like hood the treatment of the junior radiographer could be the right. Modic alterations in MRI in this study of lumbar procedures and there correct diagnosis which could be a good relief in the presence of pain from the right form of diagnosis. In this region between the lower back disks and the source of inaccuracy were the skills of the practitioner and radiographer to diagnose. This study was to determine how reliable the diagnosis from a statistical point of view displaying varied points of view from the less skilled to the seasoned professional in the diagnosis of Modic changes in MR imaging type 1-3 Modic changes and the right form of diagnosis. With a right diagnosis there are varied treatments according based on the age of the person. This study data from 94 patients with its value from a wide range of age of the subjects from 32 to 84.The study stated the degenerative disk disease is improving through use of MR imaging technology and it considers the experience in the accurate diagnosis but there was a close comparison to these displaying a task to examine the variance of the T1 and T2 weighted images were simple to apply to put to practice when someone is trained on what to find in the images. In this study there, were no type 3 Modic changes found thus limiting the implication of the study to being not being finished as it shows varied outcomes. Moreover, the images did not using a fat suppression method, to elevate the quality of the images but at the termination of paper as among the disadvantage of the study which could have advanced the reproducibility of correct treatment of the MR images issuing better treatment of quality to the process.
3.3 The third article is
Longitudinal study of high intensity zones on MR of lumbar intervertebral discs
3.3.2 Article summary and critical
The application of MRI and high level of intensity zones HIZ and its association to the degenerative disease of the lumbar spine showed issues with the research study, though it does have its advantages in the approach taken to evaluate the subjects, though not correct method since its significance of the honesty of patients. The study of degenerative lumbar disease and its association to high level of intensity zones and it correlation to lower back pain and lumber degenerative disease these associations were to be evaluated for trustworthiness. In such a case there is availability of these high level of intensity zones and there correlation to the subjects has been initially observed in images acquired by MR imaging methods were the subjects has initially had no management and have lower back pain. As the subjects were chosen at random for the purpose of the study it issues more advantage to the impact as there was a huge number of subjects to be examined initially and its validity research location to evaluate it. The results were however perfect, for the degenerative lumbar disease there is coincidence of the signs observed. There were issues with this process as it dependency on the patients remembering the response, to issue correct assumption of the pain when last examined. The assumption laid need for further research to its association to the degenerative lumbar disease. With limited results to back up the research there is a necessary need for the research, as there was a perfect reason. It may be said that the subjects data may be inaccurate, based on the right answer that may be not okay for this study as it was based on these aspects. There were varied approaches to measure pain correctly and evaluate if it does have an association to degenerative lumbar disease examined. With spontaneous advance in the high level of intensity zones in such cases there is still no correlational in the aspects that included in the association in the high level intensity zone and degenerative lumbar disease. It is consequently associated since the wrong outcome of the subjects and until a nonverbal technique acquired to correct this belief.
3.4 The fourth article is
The Therapeutic Impact of Lumbar Spine MRI on Patients With Low Back and Leg Pain
3.4.2 Article summary and critical
This paper about MRI was taken as a secondary tool for diagnosis of lumbar problems and it is evident of its use helping to help treating and helping in surgical process as a guide for application with conventional radiography.
This paper required to test for the validity of MRI imaging techniques as a diagnostic tool for application in the lower back pain and from leg pain. With the application of MRI it attributed that it has advantages, though this paper has more relation to the age of the paper than that of its benefit as a treatment tool. The advantage of this paper is that it accrues to psychological effects of chronic back pain on the person and with skilled practitioners issuing standard medical management plans and in other instances the treatment varied but the management plan remained constant, the MRI images were useful in the diagnostic process though this paper with an operation occurring it was joining of the MRI and the conventional fluoroscopy x-ray applied, hence limited possibility of chronic back problems due to the operation. There is evidence of it is benefit though an changing of the treatment of the patients in 50% of the cases that were in this control group of the person experiencing chronic back pain though the techniques used to treat the diagnostic results varied limitedly creating a not 100% accuracy though but aided by MRI imaging techniques the diagnosis changes but not the treatment. The techniques applied in examining for prolapsed disk was identified in the MRI in several cases though not in most of the cases hence its unreliability for diagnosis. The conventional techniques of therapy did not vary. With a larger size of persons it may become better equipment for diagnostic value as the level of was quite good but not perfect and diagnosis did vary though not as it was treated.
3.5 The last article is
Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine after epidural and nerve root injection therapy: evaluation of soft tissue changes
3.5.2 Article summary and critical
The application of lumbar injections of the nerve root and epidurals for purpose of the reliving of pain in chronic instances is part of the technique which has to examine and noticing the alterations available after an injection on a MRI. According to this paper it looks at the instances and displays the dangers associated with these processes and its perfect application of MRI before the injections occur so as make wrong actions. This paper is based on the pain relief of chronic back pain more so on the nerve root or epidural injections to ease the pain. In the present instance this pain relief is one for more extreme circumstances when standard pain relief has not performed accordingly. The process to be according to safe application of pain relief to the subjects as well as the initial and after images of the damage that is created by the injection procedures to remove the pain at the lower back, which may can cause extreme negative issues resulting to a spinal epidural abscess, the signs may be common like the lower back pain, local tenderness and fever. The abscesses are to be noticeable by the radiographer since early intervention is vital for better treatment to be examined. The disadvantage related to this paper is the limited number of participants in the survey, range of age was okay from 26 to 78 years of age. The form used was extreme to be accessed in this research paper and it explains missing of individuals that are of good quality to examine so as to acquire to acquire wide range of source of results to be used. The information can be acquired from this paper is the nerve root and epidural injections which is to be the last resort procedure acquired after the conservative actions used to relieve pain in the lower back. The MRI is applied to examine if the injection has resulted to negative issues in the accomplishing of nerve root and epidural injection process and has resulted to useless equipment in diagnostic process used to examine if further damage has occurred from the injections. There are minimal changes that take a limited period are seen on the MRI image, it is though a short term effect, it is however it is the long term application of these techniques for relief of lower back pain required to observe the impact accrued as well as the alterations requiring examination on techniques for safety as well as relieving pain in the patients accruing to a normal life.
