MRI Cervical spine Price, Purpose & Result [2024]

• Purpose
• Price
• Procedure
• Preparation
• Results
• FAQs

MRI cervical spine helps to examine and study the cervical region (Back side of the neck) of the spine. It helps diagnose an injury or fracture in the neck and spine’s internal structure (anatomy). A doctor usually recommends it if you have pain in the neck region. This test gives a 3-D view of the soft tissues of the neck and cervical spine. MRI cervical spine price ranges from Rs 3000 to Rs 6000 in India.

MRI of the Cervical spine region includes

• Seven vertebrae range from C1 to C7
• Blood Vessels
• Nerves
• Tendon
• Ligament
• Cartilage

Test Details in Brief

Also Known As	Cervical Spine MRI, Cervical Spine Screening, MRI Screening of Cervical spine.
Purpose	Diagnosis of ALS, ML, pinched spinal nerve, brain or spinal nerve cancer, cervical spondylosis and herniated disc.
Preparation	No special preparation is required
Fasting	No
Reporting Time	8 to 24 Hrs.
Cost	Rs 3000 to Rs 6000

MRI Cervical Spine cost

MRI cervical spine costs usually range from Rs 3000 to Rs 6000. However, it may go up to Rs 12000 for special scan or if a contrast media is used. The actual price would depend on the type of study, MRI centre, city and technology.

Bookmerilab partner with more than 80 MRI centres in India and provide up to 50% discount. Contact us for more details.

Prices at Popular MRI Centres

The MRI Cervical spine prices at some of the Popular MRI centres in India are listed below. 10-50% discounts are available at the below prices.

MRI Centre	Price
Janta X-Ray Clinic	Rs 6000
Dr Lal path labs	Not Available
Mahajan Imaging	Rs 8000
Aarthi Scans	Rs 3500
Vijaya Diagnostics	Rs 7000
Lucid Diagnostics	Rs 7000
NM Medical	Rs 8000
Clumax Medall	Rs 7000
Bharat Scans	Rs 6000

City Wise Prices

BookmeriLab has partnered with more than 80 MRI centres across India. We offer MRI cervical spine at an affordable starting price of Rs 2999 to Rs 7200. The table below shows the cost of an MRI cervical spine in major cities.

City Name	Price Range
MRI cervical spine cost in Delhi	Rs 2999 to Rs 7200
MRI cervical spine cost in Gurgaon	Rs 3150 to Rs 7200
MRI cervical spine cost in Hyderabad	Rs 3150 to Rs 6673
MRI cervical spine cost in Chennai	Rs 3150
MRI cervical spine cost in Mumbai	Rs 3150 to Rs 4550
MRI cervical spine cost in Bangalore	Rs 3150 to Rs 5250
MRI cervical spine cost in Kolkata	Rs 3150

Purpose 

The cervical spine is a part of the spine that runs through the neck. The doctors use MRI cervical spine to diagnose

• Injury in the spinal cord: The sports person, players and athletes often get injured due to sudden jolts due to instant movement changes. 
• Tumour or cancer in the bones or soft tissues: These types of cancer or tumour are more common in young children. 
• Herniated discs: A portion of the spinal cord disc abnormally comes out from the intervertebral space. 
• Disc protrusion: It refers to the bulging of the intervertebral disc. MRI cervical scan can detect Disc Protrusion.
• Congenital anatomical birth defects: It is helpful for children with some congenital disability(since birth) related to the deformities in the spine. 
• Bone structure abnormalities are abnormalities in bones, tissues, or joints like spinal muscular atrophy. 
• Spinal Stenosis: Spinal stenosis is a condition that causes the narrowing of space in the spinal cord. It causes pain or stiffness in the neck. 
• Numbness in the upper extremities: It occurs due to the compression of the nerves coming from the spinal cord.

What are the different types of MRI cervical spine:

There are different types of MRI cervical spine. It depends upon the type of the issue in the cervical, brain or spinal cord. 

• MRI cervical spine with WSS: It diagnoses the Wall shear stress (WSS). This MRI spine test is helpful for the diagnosis of the bulging of a blood vessel (known as an aneurysm) in the cranium(The skull portion of the head). 

• MRI cervical spine flexion-extension:  In this type, the patient can flex and extend his neck. This MRI diagnoses the dynamic differences in the internal diameter of the spinal canal. 
• MRI cervical spine with brain screening: This test detects the brain injuries like brain tumours, cancer (bright spots may suggest cancer), and road accident injuries. 
• For detection of multiple sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the protecting coating (known as myelin) around a nerve fibre starts damaging. 
• For diagnosis of ALS: “ALS” stands for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. ALS causes muscle damage. It affects the brain and spinal cord. 
• Dynamic MRI cervical spine: This is done with the help of the cervical spine flexion-extension method. 
• MRI Cervical spine with Contrast: A contrast media (medicine) is injected before the MRI study. It improves the clarity and resolution of images, thus helping in better diagnosis.

Preparation 

There are the following types of preparation required for the MRI Cervical spine. 

• Avoid wearing any metal or jewellery as it interferes with the MRI result.
• Inform the radiologist of any inner ear implants, artificial joints, a pacemaker, or any metal implant in the body. 
• You must report if you have any kidney problems or diabetes, as one may need to go through a kidney function test before MRI is performed. 
• If you are claustrophobic, the technician may help you to ease the MRI scan procedure.
• MRI is not recommended in the first three months of pregnancy. Hence, inform your healthcare provider of your pregnancy.

Procedure 

• You will have to lie down on the scan table attached to the MRI machine. 
• The technician will provide you with earplugs. These plugs would function for the noise cancellation effect.
• The technician will place a plastic coil around the head and neck of the patient.
• The scan table moves into the MRI machine. While the patient is inside, the technologist takes several images of the neck and cervical spine.
• It is important to stay still while you are inside the MRI machine. Stillness is useful for the prevention of blurred images.
• The MRI cervical spine procedure takes 30 to 60 minutes. 
• One can resume their daily routine after an MRI scan. If you are sedated, you might require to stay for a while.
• A breastfeeding mother should avoid feeding for 24-48 hours if MRI is done using contrast dye.

Why is an MRI cervical spine better than an X-ray and CT scan?

The cervical spine is a complex and sensitive area of our body, just like the brain. Minor abnormality or injury to the spine and tissues can deteriorate the whole nervous system. X-rays do not provide a detailed picture of the sensitive area. 

CT scan provides a detailed picture of spine bones, but an MRI scan can better visualise cervical spinal tumours and injuries. In addition, MRI is more cost-effective than a CT scan test. 

MRI is superior at differentiating between normal and abnormal soft tissue, and it may be performed instead of computed tomography (CT) in circumstances when organs or soft tissue are under investigation.

Risks and side effects

• There are usually no risks. There is no radiation used in the MRI procedure.
• Some may have an allergic reaction to the contrast dye. 
• The strong magnetic field of the MRI may affect the functioning of implanted medical devices. 
• This test is safer in comparison to CT scan and x-ray. It is preferred over other scanning tests.
• If you are claustrophobic, you may feel uncomfortable inside the machine while scanning. 
• Though rare, there are chances of an allergic reaction if contrast material is used.

MRI Cervical Spine Result interpretation

Normal

A normal result indicates no problem in the neck or cervical region of the spine.

Abnormal

An abnormal result indicates –

1. Wear and tear of the cartilage and bones: It includes the abrasion and attrition of the bone and cartilage due to repetitive movements. 
2. Herniated disc: As discussed above, It is a medical condition indicating the outward ejection of the cartilage ring from the intervertebral space. 
3. Narrow cervical spine: It is the narrowness of the spinal nerve root passage (also known as the spinal canal). This narrowed canal causes compression of the nerve endings, which ultimately causes pain. 
4. Degenerative changes: These changes are due to age-related factors. The wear and tear of the vertebrae cause degenerative changes. 
5. Inflammation or bulge disc: The inflammation of the cartilaginous rings present between the vertebrae. 
6. Spinal fracture: The spinal fracture deals with the fracture of the spinal cord. The wrestlers, boxers and professional fighters are prone to a spinal fractures. 
7. Tumour or cancer in the spine: It is more common in newborns. A tumour is a mass of cells which can be cancerous or non-cancerous. 
8. Spine Pinched nerve: It is a consequence of the narrowed cervical spine. It causes pain and discomfort in the spinal cord. 

Your doctor will provide you with all the information indicated in your report.

Normal Vs Abnormal Cervical Spine MRI

Sample Report

Limitations of an MRI Scan

• A weighty person may not fit in the MRI machine.
• Irregular heartbeat and patient movement might affect the quality of the scan.
• Patients who are seriously injured are generally not recommended to take an MRI scan.
• Pregnant women must avoid MRI unless recommended by the doctor.

MRI Cervical Spine FAQs

How to Book MRI Cervical Spine