Background

There are an increasing number of patients who cannot have MR for a number of reasons such as non-MR compatible implants and claustrophobia. Although standard CT can be used and this shows the bony degenerative change well identifying the soft tissue component is more challenging.

Objective

To see if analysing the dual energy images make is easier to identify the soft tissue element of spinal degenerative change.

Methods

Patients who were referred for a CT spine, in order to look for degenerative change, would be vetted to have a dual energy scan. Scans performed on a Canon Aquillion Prime 360 slice CT scanner and analysed using Canons Vitrea software package .

Results

Images from the cases using dual energy are shown.

Conclusions

Dual energy CT has to potential to increase identification of soft tissue change on CT compared to conventional techniques.