Myelographic MR imaging of the cervical spine with a 3D true fast imaging with steady-state precession technique: initial experience.

The majority of spinal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been performed with spin-echo sequences and spoiled gradient-echo sequences. Advances in gradient MR imaging performance now permit imaging with coherent steady-state sequences. In this study, the authors compare a three-dimensional true fast imaging with steady-state precession sequence with a three-dimensional spoiled gradient-recalled-echo sequence for MR evaluation of the cervical spine in the transverse plane. Initial experience indicates that the steady-state sequence is superior to spoiled gradient-recalled-echo sequences for MR evaluation of cervical spine anatomy and abnormalities.