An ultra-low dose CT scan of a fracture of the tibial plateau (left) compared to a conventional dose CT scan.
Physicians at NYU Langone Medical Center have managed to use a CT scanner to image and identify joint fractures with a radiation dose 14 times lower than an average similar exam. Having a radiation dose closer to that of a chest X-ray (down from 0.43 msV to 0.03 msV) may help alleviate a lot of concern about exposure to ionizing radiation and allow doctors not to have to struggle over whether to prescribe the CT exam. This is a particular concern for children for whom early frequent exposure to radiation may lead to the development of cancers. The new study was presented today, March 2, at the 2016 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting.
The new capability relies on a newly developed protocol called REDUCTION (Reduced Effective Dose Using Computed Tomography In Orthopedic Injury) that has been used to assess gases around the knee’s joint. Because of its previous success, the researchers decided to try to use it for joint fractures that are hard to analyze using traditional X-rays.
A number of patients were scanned using both standard CT scans and the new REDUCTION ultra-low dose imaging method that were suspect of having a joint fracture. Using the new system, physicians were able to identify suspect fractures with 98 percent sensitivity and 89 percent specificity.
Via: NYU Langone…