CT in osteoarthritis: its clinical role and recent advances

Skeletal Radiol. 2023 Nov;52(11):2199-2210. doi: 10.1007/s00256-022-04217-z. Epub 2022 Oct 26.

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) is a widely available imaging method and considered as one of the most reliable techniques in bone assessment. Although CT has limited tissue contrast and needs radiation exposure, it has several advantages like fast scanning time and high spatial resolution. In this regard, CT has unique roles in osteoarthritis (OA) and its variable utilities have been reported. Hence, this review highlights the clinical role of CT in OA of representative joints. In addition, CT showed the several technical advancements recently, for example, acquiring the CT image with standing, obtaining the dual-energy data, and novel photon-counting detector development. Therefore, the recent studies and potential utility of these new CT systems in OA are also discussed.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Dual-energy CT; Osteoarthritis; Photon-counting CT; Weight bearing CT.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Osteoarthritis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Photons
  • Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed* / methods