Abstract: Objective  To analyze the diagnostic value of MRI in early and atypical spinal tuberculosis.
  Methods  The clinical data of 200 patients with spinal tuberculosis diagnosed were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were examined by X-ray, CT and MRI. The diagnostic results of the three methods were compared and analyzed, and the value of MRI in the diagnosis of early and atypical spinal tuberculosis was comprehensively evaluated.
  Results  The coincidence rates of X-ray, CT and MRI in the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis were 36.5%(127/200), 77.5%(155/200) and 97.0%(194/200),  MRI was higher than CT and X-ray, and CT was higher than X-ray, the difference was statistically significant(χ2=69.062, P=0.001). The sensitivity of CT examination in the diagnosis of dead bone formation(95.69%; 200/209) was much better than that of X-ray(34.93%; 73/209) and MRI(30.63%; 64/209). The sensitivity of MRI in the diagnosis of involved vertebral body, intervertebral disc and spinal canal was 100%(512/512), 100%(354/354) and 95.71%(201/210), respectively, which was better than that of 57.23%(293/512), 46.32%(164/354)、 30.47%(64/210) of X-ray, and 73.24%（375/512）, 74.29%（263/354）and 56.67%(119/210) of CT. The difference was statistically significant(χ2=67.961，P＜0.001).
  Conclusion  MRI is valuable in the diagnosis of early and atypical spinal tuberculosis, it can clearly show the different signs of spinal tuberculosis and has high sensitivity, which is worth popularizing.

Key words: uberculosis； Spinal, magnetic resonance imaging