CT in musculoskeletal imaging: still helpful and for what?

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewResearchpeer-review

  • John A. Carrino
  • Hamza Ibad
  • Yenpo Lin
  • Elena Ghotbi
  • Joshua Klein
  • Shadpour Demehri
  • Filippo Del Grande
  • Eric Bogner
  • Boesen, Mikael Ploug
  • Jeffrey H. Siewerdsen

Computed tomography (CT) is a common modality employed for musculoskeletal imaging. Conventional CT techniques are useful for the assessment of trauma in detection, characterization and surgical planning of complex fractures. CT arthrography can depict internal derangement lesions and impact medical decision making of orthopedic providers. In oncology, CT can have a role in the characterization of bone tumors and may elucidate soft tissue mineralization patterns. Several advances in CT technology have led to a variety of acquisition techniques with distinct clinical applications. These include four-dimensional CT, which allows examination of joints during motion; cone-beam CT, which allows examination during physiological weight-bearing conditions; dual-energy CT, which allows material decomposition useful in musculoskeletal deposition disorders (e.g., gout) and bone marrow edema detection; and photon-counting CT, which provides increased spatial resolution, decreased radiation, and material decomposition compared to standard multi-detector CT systems due to its ability to directly translate X-ray photon energies into electrical signals. Advanced acquisition techniques provide higher spatial resolution scans capable of enhanced bony microarchitecture and bone mineral density assessment. Together, these CT acquisition techniques will continue to play a substantial role in the practices of orthopedics, rheumatology, metabolic bone, oncology, and interventional radiology.

Original languageEnglish
JournalSkeletal Radiology
ISSN0364-2348
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Skeletal Society (ISS) 2024.

    Research areas

  • Computed tomography (CT), Cone-beam CT (CBCT), Dual-energy CT (DECT), Musculoskeletal, Photon counting CT (PCCT)

ID: 398558419