Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Musculoskeletal Research and Basic Science pp 165–182Cite as

Computerized Tomography in the Evaluation of Musculoskeletal System

  • Chapter

  • 2480 Accesses

Abstract

With the advances in multidetector computerized tomography (MDCT) technology, indications for CT in the evaluation of musculoskeletal system have increased. Although magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the musculoskeletal system has gained much attention over the years, indications for CT especially after MDCT got multiplied. While MR imaging is undoubtedly superior to CT in detecting soft tissue and bone marrow abnormalities with its inherited high-contrast resolution, MDCT is essential in several settings. With CT imaging, no absolute contraindications (such as cardiac pacemakers, electronic stimulators) have been identified as has been with MR imaging. The ease in availability of this modality has contributed to its indications mainly in the emergency departments especially with very short scanning times. CT is an excellent technique for detailed evaluation of skeletal trauma with the use of multiplanar reformations and three-dimensional-rendering techniques available, especially when complex fractures with articular involvement are suspected. Besides trauma patients, as an alternative to MR imaging in many situations, MDCT is particularly useful in patients who have metal hardware which otherwise metal artifact typically prohibits MR imaging evaluation. CT is also used to diagnose complications in fracture healing and selected bone tumors especially in evaluating the matrix mineralization and infectious diseases and to guide musculoskeletal interventions. The better delineation of skeletal structures adds to its advantages with multislice scanning and 3D-displaying capability.

In this section, these and other indications for performance of CT of the musculoskeletal system, touching to the features of the modality, will be discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Mutschler W, Kanz KG (2002) Interdisciplinary shock room management: responsibilities of the radiologist from the trauma surgery viewpoint. Radiologe 42:506–514

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Trentz O (2000) Polytrauma: pathophysiology, priorities and management. In: Rüedi T, Murphy WM (eds) AO principles of fracture management. Thieme, Stuttgart, pp 661–673

    Google Scholar 

  3. Dawson P, Lees WR (2001) Multi-slice technology in computed tomography. Clin Radiol 56:302–309

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Körner M, Linsenmaier U (2009) CT management of multisystem trauma. In: Reiser MF, Becker CR, Nikolaou K, Glazer G (eds) Medical radiology. Diagnostic imaging. Multislice CT. Springer, Berlin, p 589

    Google Scholar 

  5. Fayad LM, Bluemke DA, Fishman EK (2005) Musculoskeletal imaging with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging: when is computed tomography the study of choice? Curr Probl Diagn Radiol 34:220–237

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Iochum S, Ludig T, Walter F, Fuchs A, Blum HP (2001) Intérêt de la technique de rendu volumique en pathologie ostéoarticulaire. J Radiol 82:221–230

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gervaisea A, Teixeiraa P, Villanic N, Lecocqa S, Louisa M, Bluma A (2013) CT dose optimisation and reduction in osteoarticular disease. Diagn Interv Imaging 94:371–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bushong SC (2008) Concepts of radiologic science in radiologic science for technologists. Mosby Elsevier, St. Louis, p 12

    Google Scholar 

  9. Alam A, Chander BN (2005) Three dimensional spiral CT imaging of the musculoskeletal system: application and advantages. MJAFI 61:133–138

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kuszyk BS, Ney DR, Fishman EK (1995) The current state of the art in three-dimensional oncologic imaging: an overview. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 33:1029–1039

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Le HB, Lee ST, Munk PL (2010) Image-guided musculoskeletal biopsies. Semin Interv Radiol 27:191–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Rubens DJ, Fultz PJ, Gottlieb RH, Rubin SJ (1997) Effective ultrasonographically guided intervention for diagnosis of musculoskeletal lesions. J Ultrasound Med 16:831–842

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ahrar K, Himmerich JU, Herzog CE et al (2004) Percutaneous ultrasound-guided biopsy in the definitive diagnosis of osteosarcoma. J Vasc Interv Radiol 15:1329–1333

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kandarpa K, Aruny JE (2002) Handbook of interventional radiologic procedures, 3rd edn. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, p 765

    Google Scholar 

  15. Peh WCG (2006) CT-guided percutaneous biopsy of spinal lesions. Biomed Imaging Interv J 2:e25

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Schwartz HS, Spengler DM (1997) Needle tract recurrences after closed biopsy for sarcoma: three cases and review of the literature. Ann Surg Oncol 4:228–236

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Ohashi K, El-Khoury GY (2009) Musculoskeletal CT: recent advances and current clinical applications. Radiol Clin N Am 47:387–409

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Geijer M, El-Khoury GY (2006) MDCT in the evaluation of skeletal trauma: principles, protocols, and clinical applications. Emerg Radiol 13:7–18

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Imhof H, Mang T (2006) Advances in musculoskeletal radiology: multidetector computed tomography. Orthop Clin North Am 37:287–298

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. West ATH, Marshall TJ, Bearcroft PW (2009) CT of the musculoskeletal system: what is left is the days of MRI? Eur Radiol 19:152–164

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Rydberg J, Liang Y, Teague SD (2004) Fundamentals of multichannel CT. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 8:137–146

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Buckwalter KA, Farber JM (2004) Application of multidetector CT in skeletal trauma. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 8:147–156

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Dalrymple NC, Prasad SR, Freckleton MW, Chintapalli KN (2005) Informatics in radiology (infoRAD): introduction to the language of three-dimensional imaging with multidetector CT. RadioGraphics 25:1409–1428

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Buckwalter KA, Rydberg J, Kopecky KK, Crow K, Yang EL (2001) Musculoskeletal imaging with multislice CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol 176:979–986

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Choplin RH, Farber JM, Buckwalter KA, Swan S (2004) Three-dimensional volume rendering of the tendons of the ankle and foot. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 8:175–183

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Farber JM (2004) CT arthrography and postoperative musculoskeletal imaging with multichannel computed tomography. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 8:157–166

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. White LM, Buckwalter KA (2002) Technical considerations: CT and MR imaging in the postoperative orthopedic patient. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 6:5–17

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Karcaaltincaba M, Aktas A (2011) Dual energy CT revisited with multidetector CT: review of principles and clinical applications. Diagn Interv Radiol 17:181–194

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Choi HK, Al-Arfaj AM, Eftekhari A, Munk PL, Shojania K, Reid G et al (2009) Dual energy computed tomography in tophaceous gout. Ann Rheum Dis 68:1609–1612

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Chiu WC, Haan JM, Cushing BM et al (2001) Ligamentous injuries of the cervical spine in unreliable blunt trauma patients: incidence, evaluation, and outcome. J Trauma 50:457–463

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Harris JH, Lee JS, Coupe KJ et al (2004) Acetabular fractures revisited : part 2, a new CT-based classification. AJR Am J Roentgenol 182:1367–1375

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Grigoryan M, Lynch JA, Fierlinger AL et al (2003) Quantitative and qualitative assessment of closed fracture healing using computed tomography and conventional radiography. Acad Radiol 10:1267–1273

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Mori T, Fujii M, Akisue T et al (2005) Three-dimensional images of contrast-enhanced MDCT for preoperative assessment of musculoskeletal masses: comparison with MRI and plain radiographs. Radiat Med 23:398–406

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Moser T, Dosch JC, Moussaoui A, Dietemann JL (2007) Wrist ligament tears: evaluation of MRI and combined MDCT and MR arthrography. AJR Am J Roentgenol 188:1278–1286

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Schmid MR, Schertler T, Pfirrmann CW et al (2005) Interosseous ligament tears of the wrist: comparison of multidetector row CT arthrography and MR imaging. Radiology 237:1008–1013

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Gulhane Military Medical School, Gn. Tevfik Sağlam Cad., Keciören-Etlik, Ankara, 06018, Turkey

    Hatice Tuba Sanal MD

  2. Department of Radiology, Sirnak Military Hospital, Sirnak, Turkey

    Sinan Akay MD

Authors
  1. Hatice Tuba Sanal MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sinan Akay MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hatice Tuba Sanal MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sports Medicine, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey

    Feza Korkusuz

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sanal, H.T., Akay, S. (2016). Computerized Tomography in the Evaluation of Musculoskeletal System. In: Korkusuz, F. (eds) Musculoskeletal Research and Basic Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20777-3_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20777-3_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-20776-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-20777-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation