Hybrid bone imaging in pediatrics

Abstract

The nonspecificity of bone scintigraphy has been greatly improved with the addition of hybrid imaging. Due to the potential for increased radiation exposure, it is important for the imaging physician to first justify and then optimize the examination. At the time of the request for examination, it should be determined if a CT in addition to the SPECT study might be warranted to improve care of the child. Duplication of studies is to be avoided. Therefore, if the child has recently had a cross-sectional imaging study (CT or MR) or if MR is to be performed temporally close to bone scintigraphic study that could be fused with post-processing fusion software, then an additional CT might not be warranted. Current computer programs can often adequately fuse outside studies in DICOM format. Axial coverage of the CT should be determined by the clinical question or by the findings on the SPECT portion of the study, as current SPECT/CT scanners can perform the CT portion of the study temporally after the SPECT acquisition.