Dual energy CT can identify patients with ACL tears in emergency room

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic have found that dual energy CT is a more effective and less costly method than MRI to identify anterior cruciate ligament tears in patients in the emergency room.

“While this is a new use for dual energy CT, the images were of sufficient spatial resolution and diagnostic quality that radiologists with various levels of expertise in musculoskeletal imaging could accurately identify the tears,” Katrina N. Glazebrook, MB, ChB, lead author from the Mayo Clinic, stated in a press release.

Glazebrook and colleagues asked a musculoskeletal-trained radiologist and a radiologist resident to examine CT scans from 27 patients on axial, sagittal and oblique sagittal planes, according to the abstract. Using a four-point scale, the musculoskeletal-trained radiologist and radiologist resident were able to correctly diagnose anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears 94% of the time and 87% of the time, respectively.

Dual energy CT may be used in the future to identify bone bruising or meniscal tears, according to Glazebrook.

“While MRI is considered the gold standard for evaluation of internal derangement of the knee, MRI is rarely used in the emergency department because it requires a longer scan time as compared to CT. MRI is usually not readily available and it can be more costly than CT,” she said. “Using dual energy CT to identify significant internal derangement of the knee early can facilitate treatment planning for patients with knee trauma.”

Reference:

Glazebrook KN. E294. Presented at: American Roentgen Ray Society Annual Meeting; April 14-19, 2013; Washington, D.C.

Disclosure: Glazebrook has no relevant financial disclosures.