Specific Anatomic Region | Ankle | |
Application | Evaluate suspected fracture | |
Author | Fishman EK | |
Reference Source | Spiral Evaluation of the Musculoskeletal System (in: Spiral CT: Principles, Techniques and Clinical Applications. Fishman, Jeffrey, eds. 1998) | |
Scanner Used | Siemens Somatom Plus 4 | |
Injection Rate | N/A | |
Contrast Volume and Type | N/A | |
Area Scanned | Several cm above the talotibial joint through the midfoot | |
Scan Delay | None | |
Length of Spiral (time) | 30-40sec | |
Slice Thickness | 3mm | |
Table Speed/Pitch | Usually 3mm/sec or a pitch of 1 | |
Reconstruction Interval | 1 or 3mm | |
3D Technique Used | Volume rendering and MPR | |
Comment: This technique relies on a single CT acquisition in a plane parallel to the foot with MPR and 3D reconstructions done to provide all views. Another school of thought is to get a second set of images in a direct coronal plane with the foot flat. This is ideal in cases where calcaneal pathology is extensive. |