Computed tomography in bone and soft tissue pathology of the extremities

Forty patients suffering from various pathological conditions of the extremities were examined by computed tomography (CT) and the results were correlated with conventional imaging techniques: plain radiography, conventional tomograms, angiograms, and radionuclide scanning. The patients' ages ranged from 4 to 80 years. The study included cases of osteomyelitis, benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors, metabolic disorders, and a case of pulmonary osteoarthropathy. We were able to follow progression and/or regression of osteomyelitis by recording the changes in the attenuation coefficient of the medullary cavity and also were able to determine the extent of the malignant infiltration of the marrow cavity. Contrast enhancement was valuable in demonstrating the vascularity of soft tissue tumors and in determining the extension of primary bone lesions.