Dual-energy CT in vertebral compression fractures: performance of visual and quantitative analysis for bone marrow edema demonstration with comparison to MRI

Abstract

VNC DECT images allowed an accurate demonstration of trauma-related abnormal attenuation in VCF, revealing the acute nature of the fracture, on both visual and quantitative evaluation.

The feasibility of dual-energy CT in differentiation of vertebral compression fractures

“…The two false-positive findings occurred in young patients and were evaluated as red bone marrow areas in the vertebral bodies, as noted in a previous study. 1 The results are compatible with previous studies related to the assessment of bone marrow in spine trauma. 1,5 The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values for the assessment of vertebral oedema obtained in our study were similar to the values obtained in the studies of Wang et al and Bierry et al The assessment of both DSCT images and non-calcium images for oedema, knowledge regarding fracture classification and sclerotic changes may affect these sensitivity values.…”

“…Currently, only a few studies have reported on the use of DSCT to visualize the bone marrow. 1,5,11,23,29 The attenuation values measured on the non-calcium images obtained by DSCT were higher in abnormal bone marrow areas than in normal areas. These increased attenuation values are correlated with the knowledge about the increase in fluid and/or blood components of the bone marrow in trauma patients.…”

“…Bone marrow oedema was defined as low signal areas on T 1 weighted images and as high signal areas on STIR images. 1,24,25 Statistical analysis Continuous variables are expressed as the mean 6 standard deviation or as the median with interquartile range when not normally distributed; categorical variables are presented as counts and/or percentages. The statistical analyses were performed with SPSS® 17.0 (IBM Corp., New York, NY; formerly SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).…”

“…1,2 Imaging procedures are important for determining the location of the fracture, selecting the optimal treatment and preventing associated complications. In addition to radiography, MRI, bone scintigraphy and CT can be used to evaluate vertebral fractures.…”

Quantitative dual-energy CT for phantomless evaluation of cancellous bone mineral density of the vertebral pedicle: correlation with pedicle screw pull-out strength

“…2) for potentially enhanced visualization of areas with low BMD which may improve preoperative planning of transpedicular screw fixation. DECT may also be beneficial for preoperative imaging of the lumbar spine as it allows for depiction of bone marrow oedema in vertebral compression fractures [31,32].…”