title: Detection of Bone Marrow Edema in Nondisplaced Hip Fractures: Utility of a Virtual Noncalcium Dual-Energy CT Application.
abstract: Purpose To quantify the sensitivity and specificity of dual-energy computed tomographic (CT) virtual noncalcium images in the detection of nondisplaced hip fractures and to assess whether obtaining these images as a complement to bone reconstructions alters sensitivity, specificity, or diagnostic confidence. Materials and Methods The clinical research ethics board approved chart review, and the requirement to obtain informed consent was waived. The authors retrospectively identified 118 patients who presented to a level 1 trauma center emergency department and who underwent dual-energy CT for suspicion of a nondisplaced traumatic hip fracture. Clinical follow-up was the standard of reference. Three radiologists interpreted virtual noncalcium images for traumatic bone marrow edema. Bone reconstructions for the same cases were interpreted alone and then with virtual noncalcium images. Diagnostic confidence was rated on a scale of 1 to 10. McNemar, Fleiss κ, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for statistical analysis. Results Twenty-two patients had nondisplaced hip fractures and 96 did not have hip fractures. Sensitivity with virtual noncalcium images was 77% and 91% (17 and 20 of 22 patients), and specificity was 92%-99% (89-95 of 96 patients). Sensitivity increased by 4%-5% over that with bone reconstruction images alone for two of the three readers when both bone reconstruction and virtual noncalcium images were used. Specificity remained unchanged (99% and 100%). Diagnostic confidence in the exclusion of fracture was improved with combined bone reconstruction and virtual noncalcium images (median score: 10, 9, and 10 for readers 1, 2, and 3, respectively) compared with bone reconstruction images alone (median score: 9, 8, and 9). Conclusion When used as a supplement to standard bone reconstructions, dual-energy CT virtual noncalcium images increased sensitivity for the detection of nondisplaced traumatic hip fractures and improved diagnostic confidence in the exclusion of these fractures.©RSNA, 2017 Online supplemental material is available for this article. An earlier incorrect version of this article appeared online. This article was corrected on March 17, 2017.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, 3350-950 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4E3.
authors.forename: Trenton T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Kellock
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, 3350-950 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4E3.
authors.forename: Savvas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nicolaou
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, 3350-950 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4E3.
authors.forename: Sandra S Y
authors.initials: SSY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, 3350-950 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4E3.
authors.forename: Sultan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Busaidi
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, 3350-950 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4E3.
authors.forename: Luck J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, 3350-950 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4E3.
authors.forename: Tim W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, 3350-950 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4E3.
authors.forename: Hugue A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ouellette
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, 3350-950 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4E3.
authors.forename: Patrick D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004487:Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult