Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2019; 23(S 01): S1-S6
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1687712
Scientific Presentations and Posters
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

DVT in MSK-Radiology - Key Point Metal Artifacts

Frank Schellhammer
1   Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Krankenhaus der Augustinerinnen, Köln, Germany
,
Tino D. Söntgerath
1   Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Krankenhaus der Augustinerinnen, Köln, Germany
,
Georg Oikonomoulas
1   Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Krankenhaus der Augustinerinnen, Köln, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
28 March 2019 (online)

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Objectives: Digital volume tomography (DVT) is an X-ray based method to gain cross-sectional images. In odontology, DVT is a well-established technique. The gold standard in the work-up of osseous pathologies in musculoskeletal (MSK) radiology is still computed tomography (CT), but this could change shortly.

Methods: A new X-ray machine (MULTITOM RAX, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) enables cross-sectional images of the extremities. The first 100 three-dimensional examinations with metal artifact containment were evaluated concerning image quality, metal artifacts, and diagnostic reliability using a visual 5-step scale (0 = poor; 5 = excellent).

Results: Image quality was rated as good (2.6 ± 0.7). The number of metal artifacts was rather low (2.2 ± 0.7). Diagnostic reliability was sufficient (3.1 ± 0.8).

Conclusion: DVT has not yet replaced conventional CT. However, DVT has shown to be adequate in MSK radiology for imaging the joints of the extremities, and metal artifacts seem to be only a minor problem.