What is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine?
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of the organs and structures inside the body. An MRI can give your doctor information about the spine in your neck (the cervical spine). This can include the spine, the space around the spinal cord, and vertebrae in your neck.
When you have an MRI, you lie on a table and the table moves into the MRI machine.
Why is an MRI of the cervical spine done?
An MRI of the cervical spine can help find problems such as infection and tumors. It also can help diagnose narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis) and a herniated disc in the cervical spine.
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