Abstract
Purpose
To assess the feasibility of visualizing hand and foot tendons by dual-energy computed
tomography (CT).
Methods and materials
Twenty patients who suffered from hand or feet pains were scanned on dual-source CT
(Definition, Forchheim, Germany) with dual-energy mode at tube voltages of 140 and
80 kV and a corresponding ratio of 1:4 between tube currents. The reconstructed images
were postprocessed by volume rendering techniques (VRT) and multiplanar reconstruction
(MPR). All of the suspected lesions were confirmed by surgery or follow-up studies.
Results
Twelve patients (total of 24 hands and feet, respectively) were found to be normal
and the other eight patients (total of nine hands and feet, respectively) were found
abnormal. Dual-energy techniques are very useful in visualizing tendons of the hands
and feet, such as flexor pollicis longus tendon, flexor digitorum superficialis/profundus
tendon, Achilles tendon, extensor hallucis longus tendon, and extensor digitorum longus
tendon, etc. It can depict the whole shape of the tendons and their fixation points
clearly. Peroneus longus tendon in the sole of the foot was not displayed very well.
The distal ends of metacarpophalangeal joints with extensor digitoium tendon and extensor
pollicis longus tendon were poorly shown. The lesions of tendons such as the circuitry,
thickening, and adherence were also shown clearly.
Conclusion
Dual-energy CT offers a new method to visualize tendons of the hand and foot. It could
clearly display both anatomical structures and pathologic changes of hand and foot
tendons.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 23, 2009
Accepted:
December 16,
2008
Received:
November 10,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
