Bone single-photon emission computed tomography and three-dimensional computed tomography in the diagnosis of low costal variation and pathologies

Abstract

In general, there are five lumbar vertebras in normal human subjects. But occasionally there are six. In such a situation, a radiologist need to discern between lumbarization of S1 (S1 vertebra becomes segmented and mimics L5) or due to hypoplastic 12th ribs, hence the T12 vertebra is wrongly assumed to be L1. These interesting images serve a multimodality approach to right aplasia/left hypoplasia of 12th rib, injury of left 11th rib and subluxation of left 11th Costovertebral joint in a patient with lumbar back pain.