Dual energy CT myelography after lumbar osteosynthesis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of CT myelography in the DE technique in patients with lumbar osteosynthesis.


METHODS
In 30 patients a DE-CT scan of the spine with tube voltages of 80 kV and 140 kV was performed and a virtual monochromatic series of 120 kV was generated after intrathecal contrast injection. The impact of metal artifacts on the spinal canal and the spinal foramina was evaluated. The visualization of nerve roots was compared between a VRT series of the dural sac and conventional myelography.


RESULTS
With tube voltages of 140 kV, the artifacts were least pronounced. As no overlay disturbance was present, VRT visualization of the nerve roots was more reliable than conventional myelography.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients after osteosynthesis, CT in the DE technique provides minimal artifact disturbance using a tube voltage of 140 kV. "Virtual myelography" seems to be superior to conventional myelography for the evaluation of nerve roots. This could reduce additional conventional radiography, may shorten the entire examination and radiation time and diminish unnecessary painful movements for the patient.
Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University Innsbruck.
A E
AE
Grams
Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Giessen.
J
J
Sender
Department of Radiology, University Hospital Giessen.
R
R
Moritz
Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Giessen.
M
M
Obert
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Giessen.
M
M
Stein
Department of Neurosurgery, Vogtland-Klinikum Plauen.
M
M
Oertel
Department of Radiology, University Hospital Giessen.
G A
GA
Krombach
Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University Innsbruck.
E R
ER
Gizewski
Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum Wuppertal.
T
T
Schmidt
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009192:Myelography / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods; D015900:Radiography, Dual-Energy Scanned Projection / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome