11.03.2008

Cone-Beam CT: Just as Useful as MDCT Before and After Percutaneous Vertebroplasty

Cone-beam CT which is believed to deliver less radiation than MDCT is just as useful when evaluating patients before and after percutaneous vertebroplasty according to a study performed at the Department of Clinical Radiology, Kyushu University, Fukoka, Japan. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive cement augmentation technique to relieve pain in the back that is non-responsive to conservative treatment.

The study included 22 patients who had osteoporotic compression fractures and underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty for treatment. During the study cone-beam CT and MDCT were performed on all patients before and after percutaneous vertebroplasty. Before vertebroplasty, all 75 cortical defects seen on MDCT were also observed on cone-beam CT with 100% sensitivity and specificity. After vertebroplasty, MDCT found cement leakages in 17 disk spaces, 15 paravertebral soft tissues and 12 veins; cone-beam CT identified all cement leakages.

source: ARRS

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