Spine MRI in Patients With Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Spine MRI in Patients With Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients implanted with deep brain stimulation (DBS) is under strict safety guidelines. Depending on the body part being imaged, the safety may vary.

Many DBS patients will need a spine MRI based on their clinical symptoms. However, the vendor safety guidelines are limiting in terms of possible MR pulse sequences. Based on phantom safety data, we designed a set of MR pulse sequences deemed as safe as possible and the protocol allows acquisition of diagnostic quality MRI images.

The patients who clinically require a spine MRI will undergo a spine MRI with our designed protocols to obtain diagnostic quality images. Furthermore, a limited brain MRI will be done before and after to ensure no peri-electrode tissue changes.

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 18 and 85 years of age
• Participants must have undergone implantation of DBS electrodes.
• Participants must be able to understand the purpose of this research and must sign the informed consent form.
• Participants must understand that the role of this research is demonstrate the safety of spine MRI in patients with DBS.

Exclusion criteria

• Participants who have serious cognitive or psychological impairments and cannot give informed consent.
• Participants who are unable to effectively or efficiently communicate, for example patients suffering from speech deficits (dysarthria, aphasia) or are non-English speaking.