SPECT/CT in musculoskeletal infections.
This article provides a brief overview of the current state of hybrid single-photon emission computed tomography/computer tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging in musculoskeletal infections. SPECT/CT imaging, compared with conventional planar study and SPECT alone, provides improved anatomic localization of infection and more accurate delineation of the extent of infection. This article emphasizes three clinical aspects where SPECT/CT is found to be most useful: differentiating between soft tissue and bone infections, assessing suspected infected sites with underlying structural bone alterations, and defining infective focus when complex anatomy is involved. The accurate assessment of site of infection is vital for selecting the most appropriate therapeutic strategy. Other advantages of SPECT/CT imaging such as reducing the inconvenience of combination planar studies, providing additional CT information, and increasing interobserver agreement are also discussed.
Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
Sue Ping
SP
Thang
Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
Aaron Kian Ti
AK
Tong
Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
Winnie Wing Chuen
WW
Lam
Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
David Chee-Eng
DC
Ng
D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications
D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate