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Lumbosacral transitional vertebral articulation: evaluation by planar and SPECT bone scintigraphy
G Pekindil1, A Sarikaya, Y Pekindil
1Department of Radiology, Trakya University Medical School, Edirne, Turkey. pekindilg@yahoo.com
Nuclear Medicine Communications
|April 6, 2004
Summary
Bone scintigraphy, particularly SPECT, can identify metabolically active degenerative changes in lumbosacral transitional vertebral articulation (LSTVA) associated with low back pain (LBP). This imaging technique may help diagnose LBP originating from LSTVA.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Radiology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Low back pain (LBP) can be linked to lumbosacral transitional vertebral articulation (LSTVA).
- Bone scintigraphy is effective for detecting bone and joint diseases causing pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To illustrate planar and SPECT bone scintigraphic findings in LSTVA.
- To compare these findings with LBP and X-ray results.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 28 patients with radiographically identified LSTVA using planar and SPECT bone scintigraphy (99mTc-MDP).
- Assessed patients with and without LBP, correlating findings with X-ray results.
Main Results:
- SPECT showed focal, markedly increased uptake in patients with degenerative changes and LBP, indicating active disease.
- Planar scintigraphy showed less distinct uptake patterns compared to SPECT.
- X-rays correlated LBP with degenerative changes.
Conclusions:
- Focal, markedly increased uptake on SPECT may signify metabolically active degenerative changes in LSTVA.
- Bone scintigraphy, especially SPECT, is a valuable tool for evaluating LBP suspected to originate from LSTVA.