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Spinal bone SPECT in chronic symptomatic ankylosing spondylitis
P J Ryan1, T Gibson, I Fogelman
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Clinical Nuclear Medicine
|December 31, 1997
Summary
Bone SPECT imaging frequently reveals abnormalities in ankylosing spondylitis patients with back pain. Most commonly, these indicate inflammation in the facetal joints and vertebral bodies of the spine.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Radiology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Spinal pain is a common symptom of chronic ankylosing spondylitis.
- Bone SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) is utilized for evaluating spinal pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate bone SPECT findings in the lower thoracic and lumbar spine of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
- To identify common sites of SPECT abnormalities in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of bone SPECT scans in 28 symptomatic patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
- Evaluation of the lower thoracic and lumbar spine for abnormal radiotracer uptake.
Main Results:
- SPECT abnormalities were detected in 89% of patients.
- Facetal joint uptake was observed in 57% of patients, with 25% showing three or more active sites.
- Vertebral body uptake was present in 54% of patients, with 11% showing three or more sites.
Conclusions:
- Bone SPECT frequently identifies abnormalities in the lower thoracic and lumbar spine of ankylosing spondylitis patients.
- Facetal joints and vertebral bodies are the most common sites of SPECT abnormalities.
- Extensive facetal joint uptake is a notable finding not previously described in this context.