Identification of Intraarticular and Periarticular Uric Acid Crystals with Dual-Energy CT: Initial Evaluation

Abstract

Initial retrospective assessment suggests that dual-energy CT is a sensitive, noninvasive, and reproducible method for identifying uric acid deposits in joints and periarticular soft tissues in patients suspected of having gout.

Artifacts in Dual-Energy CT Gout Protocol: A Review of 50 Suspected Cases With an Artifact Identification Guide

“…Reported sites of such artifact include the skin, nose, calluses, nail bed, tissues around arthroplasties, and the flexor and peroneal tendons [8,10,11]. These artifacts have the potential to lead to a false-positive result if not recognized by the reporting radiologist.…”

Dual Energy CT: added value in gouty arthritis

“…In a retrospective study 31 patients were selected and a total accuracy of DECT versus aspiration proved to be 94%. However sample size was small and selection bias appeared to be a real limitation of study (19). As this study shows, radiologists should be trained to learn about the artifacts in order to maximize the observer reliability.…”

Musculoskeletal wide detector CT: Principles, techniques and applications in clinical practice and research

“…Dual-energy is mainly used in MSK for differentiation between intra-articular and peri-articular hyperdense materials, which is useful for the differential diagnosis of gout. Dual-energy can also be used to differentiate between calcification and iodine on CT arthrography [37]. Additionally, virtual non-contrast medium enhanced images can be obtained by selectively subtracting the contrast medium from a contrast-enhanced examination [38].…”