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29 - CT of the Spine
from PART III - COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
- By Michael E. R. Habicht, J. Christian Fox
Edited by J. Christian Fox, University of California, Irvine
Book:

Clinical Emergency Radiology

Published online:

07 December 2009

Print publication:

29 September 2008, pp 404-419
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Summary

Computed tomography (CT) of the spine is becoming one of the most common studies in the modern ED. CT is the fastest, cost-effective method of imaging the spine and provides the most accurate information for diagnosis, with the exception of some soft tissue or spinal cord lesions. CT is exactly as its name implies, a mathematical approximation of the multiple densities seen as the X-ray beam rotates around the patient. The pediatric population presents a wide array of pitfalls for the clinician when evaluating the spine. Dislocations and ligamentous injury are more common in the pediatric population; they can be occult on CT and require MRI. They also present with multiple levels of injury, and complete imaging of the spine is indicated if injury is found at any level of the spine. Correct clinical judgment is required prior to sending a patient to the scanner.