Synthetic Lumbar Spine MRI from CT

Cauda Equina Syndrome or CES is a commonly suspected presentation to emergency departments across the world. CES requires a rapid assessment and surgery if the patient is confirmed to have the condition. However, approx. 85% of patients that present with suspected CES are negative for the condition. Typically, this presentation requires an MRI scan to accurately diagnosis the condition (in conjunction with physical examinations of the patient), however MRI services are not always available, and not all patients are able to have an MRI due to hardware like pacemakers.

In contrast CT scanners are widely available across the Ireland and the UK and presents the same data with a different appearance. At the Mater hospital, research has been conducted to investigate and develop an optimised CT protocol for the detection of disc herniation.

As a part of this research, ethics approval was sought and received to consent patients into this imaging study. Each patient, presenting with suspected CES, would receive the optimised CT protocol and an MRI as standard, within a 24-hour window. Through the use of Generative AI modelling, we have developed an AI that can provide accurate and reliable synthetic MRI, thereby eliminating diagnostic delay.

This project has been awarded the Health Innovation Hub Ireland Clinical Innovation Award for 2024