[The value of MRI in the preoperative assessment of scoliosis].

Clinical and radiological data of 48 patients with scoliosis who underwent routine MRI were reviewed to elicit the value of MRI in the preoperative assessment of complex spine deformities. Because of its high diagnostic sensitivity MRI gives a new insight into the true incidence of spinal cord pathology in scoliosis. Moreover, it identifies clinically unsuspected dysraphia in a surprisingly high percentage of neurologically asymptomatic patients with left-sided scoliosis. Exact planning of operative interventions is facilitated by the comprehensive diagnostic information gained through MRI. Furthermore, MRI generally allows one to refrain from invasive, high-irradiation techniques such as myelography and contrast-enhanced CT. On the basis of the presented investigational data, routine use of MRI is conclusively recommended in patients with congenital or idiopathic left-sided scoliosis.