Abstract
2231
Objectives Foot pain is not an uncommon complaint and treatments vary depending on the aetiologies. Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic value of SPECT/CT camera for patient feet studies.
Methods SPECT-CT was performed on 92 patients with foot pain using a 6 slice Philips Precedence camera and cases were reviewed to compare SPECT versus SPECT-CT. Cases were evaluated by the reporting doctor with respect to ‘change in diagnosis’, ‘more accurate diagnosis’ and ‘increase in diagnostic confidence’.
Results Diagnoses were altered in 22 patients, such as unsuspected bilateral tarsal coalitions. SPECT-CT had no impact on change in SPECT diagnosis, did not increased accuracy in diagnosis or diagnostic confidence in 9 patients. CT helped with localizing uptake including demonstration of abnormalities on CT such as unsuspected fractures, which allowed more accurate diagnoses in 54 cases. The reporting doctor was reassured of the diagnosis in 7 cases. In addition, CT effective dose (E) in milliSievert (mSv) was calculated for each patient using the formula, E= EDLPxDLP , where EDLP is the region-specific, DLP normalised effective dose and DLP is dose length product. Mean E measured from 0.004 mSv to 0.360 mSv, with a mean of 0.120 mSv.
Conclusions CT aided in the management of patients with foot pain by changing the diagnosis in 24% and confirming SPECT findings by localizing the pathology with very low additional radiation