Pediatric Spine Disorders: Appearance on Steady-State Free Precession MR Images

Pediatric spinal disorders are routinely imaged using conventional T1- and T2-weighted sequences. Steady-state free precession sequences are a cornerstone in the evaluation of cranial nerves and inner ear structures and may be used as a problem-solving tool in pediatric spinal pathology due to their high spatial resolution and contrast between CSF and soft tissues. The exquisite anatomic detail provided by steady-state free precession facilitates the depiction and characterization of subtle and complex findings in pediatric spinal disorders.

Learning Objective: To understand the value of steady-state free precession MR images in the depiction and characterization of subtle and complex findings in pediatric spinal disorders.