Dear MRI Insider,
Most people give very little thought to their sciatic nerves -- until they sustain insult or injury to them. Then the largest nerve system in the body makes itself known, causing screaming pain that can shoot from the lower spine, behind the hip joint, and all the way down the leg to the foot.
The lifetime prevalence of sciatica is estimated to be as high as 40% in the general population. Yet many of these sciatica sufferers will never know exactly what the problem is. Could it be a pinched nerve, a sprained ligament, a slipped disk?
Unfortunately, lumbar MRI has historically failed to identify the treatable causes of chronic sciatica, according to spinal specialists in California. Instead, they recommend using MR neurography to suss out the source. To read more in our MRI Insider Exclusive, click here.
In other MR news, researchers from the University of Michigan found that MR diffusion imaging was a useful tool for determining if cancer treatment is working. Their results prompted a question on coding rules for diffusion MR from an AuntMinnie.com member. Click here if you might have the answer.
Finally, MR has been the main modality in a host of new studies: You can learn more about assessing leg ischemia with MR, finding the link between genes and affective disorders, and whether 3-tesla MR angiography offers any advantages in detecting coronary artery stenosis.
