Purpose: Our aim was to review Scout CT Lateral Radiographs (sCT) to reveal vertebral fractures unreported by radiologists. Methods and Materials: We retrospectively reviewed 234 CT examinations. Our investigation was first focused on sCT data and subsequently confirmed by multiplanar sagittal reconstructions when a vertebral fracture was found. The target spine segment was T4-L4 for whole-body, T9-L4 for lumbar and T4-L2 for thoracic CT scans. A semiquantitative diagnostic approach (followed by a morphometric one) was used. When a fracture was detected a wide clinical anamnesis of the patient was sought to understand whether fractures or osteoporosis were already known. Time spent per single sCT reading session was recorded. Results: We considered 121 whole-body, 54 thoracic and 59 abdominal CT scans. In 25 patients (25/234 -10.7%) the evaluation of the appropriate spine segment on sCT was incomplete or limited for patient/technical-based conditions. In 37 patients (37/234 - 15.8%, 19 males - 18 females, age 63±12years) 50 vertebral fractures were detected (27 mild, 21 moderate, 2 severe). Among 37 fractured patients only 10 were detected by radiologists. In 9/37 patients (24.3%; 7/10 - 70.0% among "officially" detected patients) a condition of osteoporosis was previously settled or suspected. Mean time spent to evaluate a single sCT was 1 minute and 25 seconds. Conclusion: The perception and sensibility to vertebral fractures among radiologists are still poor when a vertebral fracture assessment is not the aim of the examination. Little time spent for the evaluation of sCT could improve our accuracy.
A. Bazzocchi, P. Spinnato, P. Tchouante, G. Battista, G. Guglielmi, U. Albisinni, et al. (2011). A careful evaluation of scout CT lateral radiograph may prevent unreported vertebral fractures. VIENNA : ECR.
A careful evaluation of scout CT lateral radiograph may prevent unreported vertebral fractures
BATTISTA, GIUSEPPE;CANINI, ROMEO
2011
Abstract
Purpose: Our aim was to review Scout CT Lateral Radiographs (sCT) to reveal vertebral fractures unreported by radiologists. Methods and Materials: We retrospectively reviewed 234 CT examinations. Our investigation was first focused on sCT data and subsequently confirmed by multiplanar sagittal reconstructions when a vertebral fracture was found. The target spine segment was T4-L4 for whole-body, T9-L4 for lumbar and T4-L2 for thoracic CT scans. A semiquantitative diagnostic approach (followed by a morphometric one) was used. When a fracture was detected a wide clinical anamnesis of the patient was sought to understand whether fractures or osteoporosis were already known. Time spent per single sCT reading session was recorded. Results: We considered 121 whole-body, 54 thoracic and 59 abdominal CT scans. In 25 patients (25/234 -10.7%) the evaluation of the appropriate spine segment on sCT was incomplete or limited for patient/technical-based conditions. In 37 patients (37/234 - 15.8%, 19 males - 18 females, age 63±12years) 50 vertebral fractures were detected (27 mild, 21 moderate, 2 severe). Among 37 fractured patients only 10 were detected by radiologists. In 9/37 patients (24.3%; 7/10 - 70.0% among "officially" detected patients) a condition of osteoporosis was previously settled or suspected. Mean time spent to evaluate a single sCT was 1 minute and 25 seconds. Conclusion: The perception and sensibility to vertebral fractures among radiologists are still poor when a vertebral fracture assessment is not the aim of the examination. Little time spent for the evaluation of sCT could improve our accuracy.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
