Fig. 1

Contrast-enhanced whole-spine MRI performed 2 h after symptom onset. a Sagittal T2-weighted image showing no signal abnormalities of the spinal cord. b Sagittal and c axial T1-weighted images after administration of gadolinium-based contrast agent revealing smooth contrast enhancement of the conus medullaris and the anterior and posterior roots of the cauda equina (arrows) extending beyond the spinal canal into the lumbosacral nerve roots. All MR imaging was performed on a clinical 1.5 T MR scanner (Achieva, Philips Healthcare, Best, the Netherlands) and included a T1-weighted spin-echo sequence (405/7 ms [repetition time (TR)/echo time (TE)] before and after administration of a Gd-DO3A-butrol-based contrast agent (Gadovist, Bayer, Leverkusen, Germany) in axial and sagittal orientation, a T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequence [2800/90 ms (TR/TE)] as well as a sagittal T2-weighted modified Dixon (mDixon) spin-echo sequence [2800/90 ms (TR/TE)]