Acute Compression Fracture

I just got this from Dr. Pollack in CT.  This is a great view of how a T7 compression fracture is diagnosed on MRI scan.  See the T1, T2 and STIR images.  What we are looking for here is edema, if this were a Chronic Fracture, say in the case of osteoprosis there would be a virtual normal marrow/edema signal on the T1. It is also plausable that this fracture is due to malignancy which has its additional radiological challenges and needs additional views/parameters.  If you can’t do this on your own, PLEASE take Dr. Studin’s MRI Course.

T1 = Fracture appears DARK – decreased signal 

T2 = Fracture appears WHITE – increased signal 

STIR = Fracture appears WHITE – increased signal