CT bone window photography in patients with cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the utility of routinely photographing computed tomographic (CT) bone windows in patients with cancer.


METHODS
The impression section of body CT reports were reviewed in 4,683 patients with cancer (2,240 female and 2,443 male patients, aged 2 months to 97 years [mean, 55 years]).


RESULTS
The presence of definite or possible bone metastasis was mentioned in 523 (11.2%) patients. No prior radiologic examination was available in 165 patients. In the 358 patients who had undergone previous radiologic examinations, findings were positive in 271 and normal or indeterminate in 87. In 252 (5.4%) patients, CT with bone windows may have been needed for diagnosis of bone metastasis: 110 had extensive nonosseous metastases, 77 had no osseous metastasis, 19 had bone findings that were not followed up radiologically, and 46 had bone lesions that were new findings. These new lesions were visible on scans photographed at soft-tissue windows in 45 (97.8%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine photography of CT bone windows is not necessary in patients with cancer.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010781:Photography; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*