MRI strength and size of slices

[Fluffysmom]

I read how to find the strength of my MRIs on the forum yesterday.  I found that the ones done at the hospital are 1.5, at the Open place my sports and spine doc sent me to are 0.7, and I had to call the Open place in Salem where I saw a neurosurgeon where I had my full spine done; 0.3.  Can you believe that?  I though that from the resolution it was low strength, like a few gerbils running on a wheel, but I can't believe they would order those when I had recent films on the .7 and a thoracic within the last year on a 3 Tesla.

Amusingly enough, the most complete radiology report of my lumbar spine came from the place with the .3 machine; I think the radiologist had access to my other films, too. Yes, from the .7 tesla place and one from the 1.5 hospital machine from '06.  Go figure!

I still have the question about how to find out what thickness of slices were done.  Could it be found in the lower left hand corner of the image, saying things like 4.0thk/.8sp?  On the spine MRI from the hospital to evaluate for MS, the cervical had numbers like 3.0thk/0.3/sp on the SAG T2, 1.6 thk/-1.6sp on the AX CISS 3D.

On the thoracic, it had numbers like 4.0thk/1.0sp for the SAG T2, and also for the SAG T1, 4.0thk/1.0sp for the SAG T2 TIRM.

Do those numbers have anything to do with the slice thickness?  Does anyone know?  I'm trying to figure out the quality of care I've received so far and what to ask for (politely demand) in the future.

I would appreciate any help,

Kathy

[Fluffysmom]

I'm curious mostly because I want a new brain MRI on a 3 tesla instead of a 1.5, and I'm wondering if I have to have the same slice thickness and everything in order for the radiologists to compare the new MRI to the old, or if I should just forget about it because the 3T will show more anyway?

Thanks for the info about the lumbar; the neurosurgeon saw where a fragment of extruded disc was pushing my nerve root out of its normal path.  My neuro discounted it when she ordered a lumbar MRI when she was checking my spine for lesions.  She said that the little she saw on the MRI didn't warrant the pain I said I was having.  

Oh yeah, we roasted her a couple of weeks ago, never mind.  My spine MRIs were read by the same radiologist that gave me the awful lumbar puncture.  I'll shake that off and have the surgeon I'm going to see about my hip labral tear check out the various films and see if she can give me an opinion as to whether I should see another neurosurgeon.

I'm waiting for the results of an EEG (my PCP thinks I had a seizure), and if it doesn't show anything, my PCP agreed to send me for an MRI with and without contrast.  I'll have her talk to the good neuro radiologist and see what he thinks, since the 3 tesla machine is at a different facility.

Thanks, Tammy, for the bump up.


Kathy

[Quixotic1]

I have no clue about your question on determining the slice thickness.

As for the intensity of the machine.  The bones of the spine can be well-seen on a much lower resolution machine.  It is the spinal cord which is very difficult.  So the neurosurgeon likely got all the info he needed for your lumbar spine (which doesn't have the spinal cord in it) on the low power machine.  

Quix

[wingnut19]

bump