High-field magnetic resonance imaging of meniscoids in the zygapophyseal joints of the human cervical spine.

STUDY DESIGN Prospective in vitro study of meniscoids in the cervical zygapophysial joints. OBJECTIVES.: To assess the use of high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a potential tool for evaluating meniscoids of the cervical zygapophysial joints. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Pain originating from the cervical spine is a frequent condition. It has been suggested that pathologic conditions of meniscoids within the zygapophysial joints may cause pain. METHODS Six zygapophysial joints from one embalmed human body were investigated with a 3.0-T MR unit, equipped with a microimaging-set. MRIs were correlated with microanatomical sections. RESULTS High-quality images of the meniscoids were obtained for all joints examined. There was a good correlation between the anatomic features derived from MRI and the microanatomical sections. CONCLUSIONS High-field MRI was successfully implemented as a noninvasive method for imaging the meniscoids in cervical zygapophysial joints. The results of this in vitro study indicate that high-field MRI may be feasible in evaluating patients with cervical pain possibly related to meniscoid pathology.