This is going to sound really stupid, but what does this mean on an MRI?

[DocInTraining71]

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I'm trying to read a spinal MRI, and on a few slides, there is a box (maybe 4-6 inches wide and long) with an 'X' within it (the 'X' is NOT located at the same place within each box, but I believe that it is on the same vertebra). 😳 I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but what does that mean? I have yet to see one with that marking on it (bear with me.... it's early on in my medical training ). Does it mean that it is a place of concern or is it simply a marker to orient the person reading the MRI?

Thank you! 🙂

 

[RySerr21]

maybe there's a burried treasure?

 

[DocInTraining71]

That's quite possible.

**Edit: I should probably note that I am so early on in my medical training that I have not even tried to read an MRI before (nor have I been instructed how to do so)... I'm just doing it to try it out. 😳

 

[njbmd]

I'm trying to read a spinal MRI, and on a few slides, there is a box (maybe 4-6 inches wide and long) with an 'X' within it (the 'X' is NOT located at the same place within each box, but I believe that it is on the same vertebra). 😳 I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but what does that mean? I have yet to see one with that marking on it (bear with me.... it's early on in my medical training ). Does it mean that it is a place of concern or is it simply a marker to orient the person reading the MRI?

Thank you! 🙂

Likely measurement marks made by the radiologist who interpreted the film. You could stop by radiology and ask one of them. Rads attendings LOVE to explain things to medical students.

 

[DocInTraining71]

Good idea... I hope they wouldn't look at me like I had 10 heads though. 🙄 It's too late to go ask tonight unfortunately... This is going to drive me crazy.

 

[deuist]

Rads attendings LOVE to explain things to medical students.

That must have been unique to your school. I always get the "What the hell are you doing here?" stare from radiologists?

 

[njbmd]

That must have been unique to your school. I always get the "What the hell are you doing here?" stare from radiologists?

The teaching faculty at my medical school loved to teach. Sorry to hear that you are paying for stares. If the OP can't find an attending, one of the radiology residents would explain the markings too.

 

[NPEMTIV]

I'm trying to read a spinal MRI, and on a few slides, there is a box (maybe 4-6 inches wide and long) with an 'X' within it (the 'X' is NOT located at the same place within each box, but I believe that it is on the same vertebra). 😳 I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but what does that mean? I have yet to see one with that marking on it (bear with me.... it's early on in my medical training ). Does it mean that it is a place of concern or is it simply a marker to orient the person reading the MRI?

Thank you! 🙂

Can be measurement marks or marking a location of interest.