Utility of Weight-Bearing MRI in the Lumbar Spine: A Novel Indication

For decades MRI has been utilized for diagnosing spine pathology. However, like many imaging modalities utilized today, a conventional MRI is a static study. The spine is a complex, dynamic structure whose loading characteristics change with the position of the spine and the type and direction of force applied. This gives rise to dynamic pathologies that are often masked if attempted to be imaged using conventional MRIs. This is where a weight-bearing MRI (WBMRI) shines. We report the case of a 66-year-old female in whom an L3-L4 synovial facet cyst was diagnosed on a WBMRI.