Manuel Belgrano, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Marco Cavallaro MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Paola Martingano MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Arianna Lorusso MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Leonardo Giarraputo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Maria Assunta Cova MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare diagnostic performance of multiplanar reconstructed images versus 5 mm axial reconstructed images only in the spine evaluation of polytraumatic patients.

From October 2008 to October 2009, 100 consecutive patients underwent whole body CT examination for major trauma. CT examination was performed with a 64 raw scanner. For each patient axial 5 mm reconstructed images, axial 1 mm and, coronal - sagittal 1 mm images have been evaluated. Two Radiologists examined images in consensus to recognize spine injuries in the three different images groups; the differences of the different groups was evaluated using the T test.

40 of the 100 patients did not have spine injury; the 5 mm slice revision identified 20 of the 60 (33%) patients with fracture, the 1 mm slice revision identified 53 patients (87%); the coronal-sagittal revision identified 36 patients (60%).

In our experience, thin (1 mm) multiplanar reconstructed images recognize significantly more spine fractures than 5 mm reconstructed images evaluation only (P 0.0005). So it is mandatory to reconstruct spine with thin slices and to evaluate it in the axial, coronal and sagittal planes.

Multiplanar reconstructed images evaluation significantly improve diagnostic performance of spine lesions of polytraumatic patients.

Belgrano, M, Cavallaro, M, Martingano, P, Lorusso, A, Giarraputo, L, Cova, M, Thin Multiplanar Reconstructions vs 5 mm Axial Images in the Spine Evaluation of Polytraumatic Patients.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11012904.html