Cone Beam CT a Better Choice for Vertebroplasty?

posted in Featured Post, Vertebroplasty, Vertebral Compression Fractures, What's New

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A recent study in the November issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology evaluated the usefulness of cone-beam CT for percutaneous vertebroplasty. The study assessed the feasibility of cone-beam CT for evaluation before and after vertebroplasty. The study concluded that cone-beam CT is able to correctly evaluate for vertebral fractures and vacuum phenomena in adjacent disks before vertebroplasty and for cement leakage after vertebroplasty.

Given that there is less radiation from Cone Beam CT vs. MDCT, shouldn’t a switch be made to Cone Beam technology?

The study consisted of 22 consecutive patients (15 women and seven men) with osteoporotic compression fractures (51 vertebrae). Cone-beam CT and 64-MDCT were performed before and after percutaneous vertebroplasty.

All 75 cortical defects in 51 vertebrae seen on MDCT were also observed on cone-beam CT (100% sensitivity and specificity). Vacuum phenomena were detected in 33 of 86 (38.4%) adjacent disk spaces on MDCT and in 29 on cone-beam CT (84.8% sensitivity, 98.1% specificity, and 93.0% accuracy). Cement leakage was noted at 17 disk spaces, 15 paravertebral soft tissues, and 12 veins on MDCT. All cement leakages were correctly identified on cone-beam CT

“While there is no gross difference between MDCT and cone-beam CT, cone-beam CT is believed to deliver less radiation,” said Akio Hiwatashi, MD, lead author of the study.

“Patients can be safely evaluated before and after vertebroplasty using the cone-beam CT system. It is a technical advance in image guided intervention,” said Dr. Hiwatashi.

Source for Study: Heather Curry
American Roentgen Ray Society