Finding-the-Path: Plain radiographs of cervical spine

Degenerative disc disease is visible in the mid and lower cervical spine (arrows). Prevertebral soft tissues appear normal. Three weeks later, while the patient is still being treated with antibiotic for urinary tract infection, the neck pain becomes more severe and the patient has difficulty swallowing. Neurologic examination is normal.

Which study do you request next?

• Follow-up radiographs of the cervical spine
• Tomography of the cervical spine
• CT of the cervical spine
• MRI of the cervical spine