Dual energy: Tendons and cartilage

Abstract

The introduction of multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) has lead to remarkable advances in the field of musculoskeletal imaging. MDCT enables the acquisition of isotropic data sets in high-spatial-resolution, from which multiplanar reformatted images can be calculated in any desired plane. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), based on its good low contrast resolution, remains the gold standard for musculoskeletal imaging. However, there is a wide range of situations when MRI cannot be performed, for example, when MRI is contraindicated as in patients with pacemakers or claustrophobia, or in emergency situations where access to the patient is critical. In general, MRI is still less widely available and more costly than CT. © 2008 Springer Medizin Verlag Heidelberg.