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Lumbosacral spine CT How the Test is Performed:
You lie on a gantry (movable table) and are positioned inside the CT scanner. An intercom system is built into the scanner to allow for communication between the technician and you. You are required to remain still throughout the scan. The machine will emit X-rays, which produce a series of images like slices and can detect the differences in tissues, bones, and other formations.
Sometimes a water-soluble contrast agent (a material to increase the differences between tissues) may be injected. This material is radiopaque (reflects X-rays) and therefore may improve the ability to view certain tissues.
The scan will last between 1 and 2 hours.
How to Prepare:
You must sign a consent form.
Remove all jewelry, dentures, or other metals that interfere with the scan. You will wear a hospital gown during the test.
Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
How it Feels:
If a contrast agent is injected, you will feel a sharp prick when the needle is inserted. The puncture site may be tender for several minutes afterward. During the test, there may be mild discomfort for patients already experiencing pain, for claustrophobic patients, or for others who have a hard time remaining still. The technician may be able to provide a pillow or administer a mild sedative to those experiencing discomfort.
Risks:
If contrast media is used, there is a slight risk of allergic reaction .
There may be some concern about exposure to the radiation in X-rays. Pregnant or breast-feeding women should consult their health care provider about the risk to the fetus or infant.
Why this Test is Performed:
A CT scan is a good way of getting a picture of the spine without surgery. This is considered the best way of diagnosing the cause of low back pain .
Normal Values:
All tissues and vertebrae should appear in the normal areas.
Abnormal Results:
Conditions that may be revealed include: Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
Cost:
The cost varies. Costs include charges for the basic test (equipment and hospital charges) and fees for the radiologist. The total cost is estimated at $500 to $600.
Special Considerations:
This test is about 95% accurate.
CT stands for computerized tomography. In this procedure, a thin X-ray beam is rotated around the area of the body to be visualized. Using very complicated mathematical processes called algorithms, the computer is able to generate a 3-D image of a section through the body. CT scans are very detailed and provide excellent information for the physician.
The spine is divided into several sections. The cervical vertebrae make up the neck. The thoracic vertebrae comprise the chest section and have ribs attached. The lumbar vertebrae are the remaining vertebrae below the last thoracic bone and the top of the sacrum. The sacral vertebrae are caged within the bones of the pelvis, and the coccyx represents the terminal vertebrae or vestigial tail.
These are the five vertebra of the lower back. The last vertebra (on the upper left of the picture) attaches to the sacrum, and the top vertebra (on the right of the picture) attaches to the thoracic section of the back. The vertebra are broader and stronger than the other bones in the spine. This allows them to absorb the added pressure applied to the lower back, but this area remains a common sight of injury. The vertebra are numbered from one to five and are labeled L1, L2, L3 etc. from the higher bones to the lower.
These are twelve vertebra of the mid back. The last vertebra (on the left side of the picture) attaches to the lumbar (lower) spine, and the top vertebra (on the right) attaches to the cervical (neck) section of the back. The vertebra are broader and stronger than the cervical bones. This allows them to absorb the added pressure applied to the mid back, but they remain a common sight of injury. The vertebra are numbered from one to twelve and labeled T1, T2, T3 etc. from the upper most bones to the lowest.
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