Nuclear medicine communications
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Bone scintigraphy with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) offers improved lesion detection and localization when compared to conventional planar imaging. The SPECT findings were investigated in 80 consecutive patients (aged 18-70 years, median 44) referred to a rheumatology outpatient clinic with low back pain persisting for more than 3 months. Lesions of the lumbar spine were demonstrated in 60% of patients using SPECT but in only 35% with planar imaging. ⋯ It is concluded that bone scintigraphy with SPECT in patients with chronic low back pain demonstrates many lesions not seen with either X-ray or conventional planar imaging. In addition anatomical localization is greatly enhanced with bone SPECT. The technique offers improved diagnosis in a group of patients often difficult to evaluate, and in particular a means of detecting apophyseal joint pathology which may be responsive to treatment.
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The attenuation correction for single photon emission computed tomography (SPET) data developed by Luig et al. was tested with positron emission tomography (PET) data. Since the PET attenuation correction is very precise, it may be used as a reliable measure of the functionality of the SPET correction. ⋯ Inhomogeneous absorption, however, leads to inadequate correction. In the case of sections through the lung, Luig's method might 'correct' the data in the wrong direction.