Table 3.

Head and spinal cord section magnetic resonance imaging protocol (combined)

Parameters	Description
Electromagnetic field	Images should be of good quality with an appropriate SNR value and resolution (≤ 1 × 1 mm)
Scanning range	Brain and cervical spinal cord scanned
Slice thickness and gaps	Head and spinal cord (sagittal) ≤ 3 mm, no gaps (for 2D and 3D) Cord (axial): 3 mm, no gaps
Basic sequences	1. Use protocol prior to the administration of a contrast medium for the head and spinal cord section. Administration of a contrast medium1 (T1 sequence 5-10 minutes after administration!) 2. FLAIR + C sagittal (head) 3. FAT-SAT, PD or PST1-IR + C sagittal (spinal cord section) 4. T2 + C axially at the level of the lesions visible in SAG sequences (spinal cord section) 5. FLAIR + C axial (head) 6. 3DT1 + C axial isotropically (head)2 7. T1 + C sagittal (spinal cord section) 8. T1 + C axial (spinal cord section) 1The recommended dose of a contrast medium is 0.1 mmol/kg body mass, see General comments. 2 It is recommended that sagittal reconstructions are performed and recorded, and then archived on a CD and in the PACS system, if available, as an integral part of the examination.
Optional sequences	As in the specified protocols of the head and spinal cord.