Bloodpool phase imaging is commonly performed as part of a bone scintigram , particularly when we are interested in evaluating prostheses for infection or loosening. The blood pool phase typically follows the dynamic or vascular phase imaging as part of the three phase bone scan. Usually, the blood pool phase imaging is performed at 5…
SPECT-CT Knee Imaging Protocol, Interpretation, and Indications What follows is my own imaging protocol which may be different from other centres. An injection of a Tc99m phosphate compound is followed by a dynamic acquisition of both knees and blood pool phase imaging. We have recently started performing SPECT-CT during the blood pool phase instead of…
The ability to localise accurately sites of bone inflammation in the foot and ankle makes SPECT-CT an invaluable tool for many specialists in this area. Due to complex anatomy in the foot, it can sometimes be difficult to confidently diagnose the cause of pain, particularly in patients with previous trauma or chronic conditions such as…
What exactly is a whole-body SPECT-CT? A SPECT-CT scan combines the high sensitivity of a bone scan with the increased specificity of a CT scan. The SPECT-CT study improves the localisation of bone uptake and helps characterise the cause of the bone uptake more clearly. This helps improve the diagnostic accuracy of the bone scan.…
A dopamine transporter study is a nuclear medicine scan which images the dopamine transporter in the brain and is used in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies. It uses the radiopharmaceutical I123-Ioflupane commonly referred to by the trade name DaTSCANTM. Parkinson’s Disease Parkinson’s disease affects one in 500 people, mostly over…
The demand for SPECT-CT scans of the cervical and lumbar spine, has been growing over the last few years. Healthcare professionals specialising in treating mechanical back pain are realising that they can take some of the guesswork out of diagnosing inflammatory causes of back pain. SPECT-CT is an extremely sensitive test for intervertebral disc, facet…