top of page

CT THORACIC SPINE NON CONTRAST

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

INDICATIONS (1,3)

tspine non con indications

  • Primary bone tumour suspected in thoracic spine, osteoid osteoma suspected on radiography or clinical exam

  • Axial spondyloarthritis, spine ankylosis, thoracic spine fracture suspected

  • Spinal tumours or vertebral metastasis

  • Suspected axial spondyloarthritis with thoracic symptoms

  • Mid-back pain (particular if red flags are present):

    • New, history of multiple vertebral compression fractures

    • New, previously treated vertebral compression fracture

  • Vertebral compression fracture on thoracic xray:

    • Symptomatic, history of malignancy

    • New, history of malignancy

    • Symptomatic, new, no malignancy

  • Age ≥16 years. Blunt trauma meeting criteria for thoracic imaging. 

  • Pre-operative and post-operative evaluation

tspine non con pt prep

PATIENT PREPARATION

  • Patient able to lie still for five minutes

  • Not claustrophobic (sedation may be given)

  • Cognitively capable of following basic instructions

  • Metal artefacts removed from the region of interest

  • No respiratory distress when lying supine

tspine non con anatomy

ANATOMY INCLUDED
 

CT Thoracic Spine Non Contrast- Bone window (axial)
CT Thoracic Spine Non Contrast- Bone window (coronal)
CT Thoracic Spine Non Contrast- Bone window (sagittal)
CT Thoracic Spine Non Contrast- Soft Tissue window (axial)
CT Thoracic Spine Non Contrast- Soft Tissue 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

bottom of page