Application value analysis on SPECT/CT in the diagnosis of lumbar vertebral transverse process fracture

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of SPECT/CT on lumbar vertebral transverse process fracture (LTF).

Methods From June 2013 to June 2015, 203 patients with flank pain were collected by X-ray eliminating lumbar vertebral degeneration or bone metastasis. A total of 42 patients with 49 LTF lesions confirmed by pathology or follow-up over six months of imaging underwent both SPECT/CT and CT examinations. Imaging findings in all patients were analyzed independently. The prevalence of lesion was statistically analyzed using χ² test.

Results SPECT/CT was able to detect 45 lesions, wherein 4, 12, 21, 8, 0 lesions were observed from L1 (the first lumbar) to L5 (the fifth lumbar), respectively. Meanwhile, the CT images showed 38 lesions. Significant differences were observed between SPECT/CT and CT (χ²=4.0, P < 0.05).

Conclusion SPECT/CT imaging was significantly superior to CT in diagnosis of LTF.