[Multi-slice spiral CT using spinal structure assessment in elderly patients with osteoporosis].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical value of 64-slice spiral CT for spinal structure assessment in elderly patients with osteoporosis. METHODS: The computed radiography (CR) films and 64-slice spiral CT isotropic scanning images of 40 patients who had been diagnosed as osteoporosis by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to their T-scores by DXA group A (T-score was -1.0 - (-2.5)); and B group (T-score was below -2.5). RESULTS: The diagnostic results of axial CT images combined with multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) was negatively correlated with the measurement results of DXA in the diagnosis of spinal osteoporosis, and such correlation was higher in group B than in group A. Compared with CR films, axial CT images combining with MPR showed superior effectiveness in the diagnosis of osteoporosis. CONCLUSIONS: 64-slice spiral CT is better than CR in diagnosis of osteoporosis. CT-MPR and 3D reconstruction not only can be used to diagnose osteoporosis early, but also to observe the changes of skeleton's shape and overall structure.