Anatomical – Outpatient Services, LLC.

Anatomical Guide

MRI is the definitive imaging technique for evaluation of the brain in almost every circumstance.
CT can provide complete evaluation of the majority of intracranial diseases, i.e. tumors, strokes, acute hemorrage, hydrocephalus.

Cervical & Thoracic Spine	MRI Preferred	CT Preferred	Both Suggested
Best detail evaluation of degenerative spondylosis, i.e. uncovetrebral osteophytic ridging & spurring, degenerative facet disease		X
Chiari malformation	X
Disc disease (dehydration, bulging, herniation)	X
Intrinsic spinal cord lesions (syrinx, cord tumor, hemorrhage, edema, MS plaques)	X
Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy		X
Neuralforaminal stenosos & spurring		X
Soft tissue masses & abscesses	X
Spinal arteriovenous malformations	X
Spinal canal stenosis	X
Vertebral body lesions (metastasis, hemangioma, osteomyelitis, etc.)	X
Vertebral fractures & facet dislocations		X
Head & Neck	MRI Preferred	CT Preferred	Both Suggested
Erosion of the skull base		X
Laryngeal tumors, Nasopharyngeal tumors	X
Lesions involving the brachial plexus			X
Neck masses, Parotid Masses	X
Soft tissue tumors of the neck and adenopathy			X
Tumors of the Larynx	X
Tumors of the Skull Base			X
Hip	MRI Preferred	CT Preferred	Both Suggested
Avascular necrosis	X
Define fractures & dislocations		X
Effusions (septic joint, or trauma)	X
LLiopsoas bursitis	X
Knee	MRI Preferred	CT Preferred	Both Suggested
Anterior & posterior cruciate ligament injury	X
Asscess degree of internal meniscal degeneration (age-related trauma)			X
Chondromalacai patella	X
Collateral ligament injury	X
Identify loose bodies in the joint	X
Joint effusions	X
Meniscal tears	X
Osteochondral fractures	X
Popliteal masses	X
Synovial cysts	X
Lumbar Spine	MRI Preferred	CT Preferred	Both Suggested
Best detail for evaluation of degenerative spondylosis, i.e. osteophytic ridging, degenerative facet disease, facet hypertrophy		X
Bone Tumors		X
Degenerative disease limited to the disc and vertebral endplate, without bulging, or herniation	X
Differentiation of postsurgical scar from recurrent disc (especially effective with Gd-DTPA)	X
Disc Disease (dehydration, bulging, herniation)	X
Discitis	X
Distinction between postoperative scarring & recurrent disc herniation (may use IV contrast material)	X
Evaluation of paravertebral soft tissue tumors & abcesses	X
Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy		X
Nerve root compression, or displacement	X
Nutral foraminal spurring and stenosis		X
Postoperative Hematomas	X
Pseudomeningocele	X
Soft tissue masses & abscesses	X
Spinal canal stenosis	X
Spondylolisthesis		X
Systematic diseases affective the bone marrow	X
Musculoskeletal	MRI Preferred	CT Preferred	Both Suggested
Bone Tumors		X
Detailed evaluation of superficial & deep soft tisue masses	X
TMJ	MRI Preferred	CT Preferred	Both Suggested
Evaluate condylar erosion/evaluate fracture of condyle or glenoid fossa		X
Meniscal degeneration or sublucation	X
TMJ pain	X