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CT CERVICAL SPINE CONTRAST

NOTE: Please indicate specific vertebral levels for scan range to limit radiation if possible

INDICATIONS (1,3)

CSPINE CON INDICATIONS

  • Cervical spine infection suspected:
    - Epidural abscess (MRI unavailable or contraindicated)
    - Discitis osteomyelitis (MRI unavailable or contraindicated)

  • Tumour or mass evaluation (MRI unavailable or contraindicated)

  • Cervical spine trauma with suspected vascular injury

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  • Red Flags for Spinal Imaging (this applies to all regions)

    • Sinister pain

    • Fever

    • Loss of Weight

    • Prior history of malignancy

    • Infection risk

    • Falls

    • Difficulty walking

CSPINE CON PT PREP

PATIENT PREPARATION

  • Patient able to lie still for ten minutes

  • Not claustrophobic (sedation may be given)

  • Cognitively capable of following basic instructions

  • Metal artefacts removed from the region of interest, including bra’s

  • No respiratory distress when lying supine

  • Not allergic to Iodine based Contrast

  • No known kidney disease (eGFR below 30 as per RANZCR), however, acute setting consultant may sign to continue with poor renal function

  • No hyperthyroidism, may induce thyroid storm

  • Patient to have 20G cannula in anterior cubital fossa.

  • Preferably patient fasted for 4 hours

CSPINE CON ANATOMY

ANATOMY INCLUDED
 

CT Cervical Spine Contrast- Soft tissue window (axial)
CT Cervical Spine Contrast- Soft tissue window (coronal)
CT Cervical Spine Contrast- Soft tissue window (sagittal)
CT Cervical Spine Contrast- Bone window (axial)
CT Cervical Spine Contrast- Bone window (coronal)
CT Cervical Spine Contrast- Bone window (sagittal)

REFERENCES

  1. Tins, B. (2010). Technical aspects of CT imaging of the spine. Insights into Imaging, 1(5–6), 349–359. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13244-010-0047-2

  2. Ahmad, Z., Mobasheri, R., Das, T., Vaidya, S., Mallik, S., El-Hussainy, M., & Casey, A. (2014). How to interpret computed tomography of the lumbar spine. The Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, 96(7), 502–507. https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2014.96.7.502

  3. American College of Radiology (ACR). Appropriateness Criteria. [ Internet]. 2022 [Updated 2023, Cited 20 April 2024]. Available from https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/ACR-Appropriateness-Criteria

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