European Journal of Hybrid Imaging (Nov 2018)

Occult capitate fracture through a bone island – SPECT/CT arthrography imaging

  • Klaus Strobel,
  • Lidija Antunovic,
  • Wouter van der Bruggen,
  • Gopinath Gnanasegaran,
  • Willm Uwe Kampen,
  • Tim Van den Wyngaert,
  • Edmond Rust,
  • Torsten Kuwert,
  • Frédéric Paycha

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41824-018-0040-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 1
pp. 1 – 4

Abstract

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Abstract Background Single photon emission tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) combines the strengths of bone scintigraphy and CT and serve as an important alternative to magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in carpal trauma patients if conventional x-rays are equivocal. Case presentation In a young patient with pain 4 days after carpal trauma conventional x-rays were negative for fracture and MR showed only bone bruise. SPECT/CT arthrography one month later revealed intensive uptake in the capitate bone corresponding to a fracture through a bone island on the CT part of the study. Conclusion SPECT/CT combines the sensitivity of bone scintigraphy and specificity of (diagnostic) CT and might serve as an important second line imaging modality for the detection of occult carpal fracture.

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