title: SPECT versus Planar Scintigraphy as a Clinical Aid in Evaluation of the Elderly with Knee Pain.
abstract: Chronic knee pain is a common complaint among the elderly and appears in 30%-40% of the population over the age of 65. This study was performed in order to evaluate correlation between clinical presentation of chronic knee pain and the imaging findings of SPECT and planar bone scintigraphy. Methods. We prospectively recruited 116 patients over the age of 50 who had neither knee surgery nor trauma. Patients were divided into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. All patients were examined by an experienced orthopedic surgeon; on the same day imaging was performed. Statistical analysis was performed to correlate physical examination findings with planar scintigraphy and SPECT findings and blood pool images. Results. In symptomatic patients, planar scintigraphy correlated significantly (P < 0.01) with the presence of excessive joint fluid, synovial condensation, and decrease in range of motion as measured in extension and flexion and patellar grinding test. SPECT findings correlated with all of the above tests as well as with medial and patellofemoral joint tenderness. Conclusions. We believe a finding of tenderness at the medial articular crease or of the patellofemoral compartment of the knee should be considered an indication for the use of SPECT scintigraphy rather than planar scintigraphy.
authors: Department of Hand Surgery, Kaplan Medical Center, Hebrew University, P.O. Box 100, Rehovot, Israel.
authors: Amir
authors: A
authors: Oron
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kaplan Medical Center, Hebrew University, P.O. Box 100, Rehovot, Israel.
authors: Izhar
authors: I
authors: Arieli
authors: Division of Orthopedics, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 10 Weizmann Street, 64239 Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Tamir
authors: T
authors: Pritsch
authors: Imaging Division, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 10 Weizmann Street, 64239 Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Einat
authors: E
authors: Even-Sapir
authors: Department of Orthopedics "A", Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, 70300 Zerifin, Israel.
authors: Nahum
authors: N
authors: Halperin
authors: Department of Orthopedics "A", Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, 70300 Zerifin, Israel.
authors: Gabriel
authors: G
authors: Agar