Beyond Anatomy: Fat-Suppressed MR and Molecular Imaging of Spinal Pain Generators

Vance T Lehman; Christin A Tiegs-Heiden; Stephen M Broski

doi:10.1016/j.rcl.2023.09.005

Beyond Anatomy: Fat-Suppressed MR and Molecular Imaging of Spinal Pain Generators

Radiol Clin North Am. 2024 Mar;62(2):247-261. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2023.09.005. Epub 2023 Nov 13.

Authors

Vance T Lehman¹, Christin A Tiegs-Heiden², Stephen M Broski²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SouthWest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SouthWest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

PMID: 38272618
DOI: 10.1016/j.rcl.2023.09.005

Abstract

Spine pain is highly prevalent and costly, but evaluation with clinical features and anatomic imaging remain limited. Fat-suppressed MR imaging and molecular imaging (MI) may help identify inflammatory, lesional, and malignant causes. Numerous MI agents are available, each with advantages and disadvantages. Herein, FDG PET, prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), bone radiotracers, and others are highlighted. No specific pain MI agents have been identified, but mechanisms of key agents are shown in video format, and the mechanism of PSMA as a theranostic agent is displayed. A multidisciplinary approach is needed to master this topic.

Keywords: Back pain; Facet joint; Intervertebral disc; Molecular imaging; Neck pain; Sacroiliac joint; Spine pain; Spondyloarthropathy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Male
Molecular Imaging
Pain* / pathology
Positron-Emission Tomography
Spine* / diagnostic imaging
Spine* / pathology