What common imaging technique is employed to diagnose spinal issues?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is highly effective for diagnosing spinal issues due to its ability to provide detailed images of the soft tissues, including the spinal cord, intervertebral discs, and surrounding structures. It utilizes powerful magnets and radio waves to create images, allowing for the detection of conditions such as herniated discs, spinal tumors, and degenerative disc disease without the use of ionizing radiation.

MRI excels in differentiating between various tissue types, making it an invaluable tool for effectively diagnosing complex spinal conditions. While other imaging modalities like X-rays and CT scans are useful in certain contexts, they do not offer the same level of soft tissue contrast and detail as MRI, particularly when assessing the spinal cord and nerve roots. Fluoroscopy serves a different purpose, generally used for dynamic imaging or guided procedures, rather than for initial diagnosis. Therefore, the preference for MRI in diagnosing spinal issues is due to its comprehensive imaging capabilities, focusing on soft tissue evaluation.