SPECT/CT arthrography

Br J Radiol. 2018 Feb;91(1082):20170635. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20170635. Epub 2017 Nov 16.

Abstract

Single photon emission CT (SPECT)/CT arthrography, the combination of CT arthrography and late phase bone SPECT/CT, has been developed in 2011 and so far used in knee, ankle and wrist joints. SPECT/CT offers functional information about increased bone turnover in combination with morphological details. Compared with SPECT/CT alone, additional intra-articular contrast enables the assessment of cartilage, menisci, ligaments and loose bodies. SPECT/CT arthrography is a promising alternative technique for the evaluation of internal derangement of joints in patients with MR contraindications and/or metallic implants. In this article, we review and report our 5-year experience with this technique illustrated with patient examples and give a perspective for future applications.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arthrography / methods*
  • Humans
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*