A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or there is bleeding in the brain. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. It is urgent to seek emergency care at the first sign of a stroke. Early treatment saves many lives and reduces the effects of stroke.
Quick Answer. The purpose of taking an MRI scan of the lumbar spine is to treat or better diagnose problems with the spine, explains WebMD. Patients may need an MRI scan if they show symptoms such as back pain accompanied by fever, birth defects affecting the spine, injury to the lower spine, and persistent or severe lower back pain.
What It Is. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine is a safe and painless test that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images of the cervical spine (the bones in the back of the neck). An MRI differs from a CAT scan (also called CT scan or a computed axial tomography scan) because it does not use radiation. An MRI scanner consists of a large doughnut-shaped magnet that has a tunnel in the center. Patients are placed on a table that slides into the tunnel.