Suspected Spine Infection for further evaluation of the involved spinal segment. Imaging can be utilized to distinguish between superficial infection or cellulitis and deeper infections including osteomyelitis and paraspinal or epidural abscess formation [31,48]. The body regions covered in this clinical scenario are the cervical, thoracic, lumbar spine, and sacrum. These body regions might be evaluated separately or in combination as guided by physical examination findings, patient history, and other available information. CT Spine Area of Interest As a result of its excellent delineation of osseous detail and greater sensitivity than radiography, CT can be used in the evaluation of suspected osteomyelitis as a complication from a decubitus ulcer or wound overlying the spine [3]. The addition of IV contrast increases the conspicuity of paraspinal soft tissue abnormalities, such as inflammation or abscess that may be caused by infection. In those cases in which a contrast-enhanced CT is to be performed, it is not necessary or useful to perform a noncontrast-enhanced CT first, because this latter examination does not add more diagnostic information. The sensitivity and specificity of CT for spine infection is 79% and 100%, respectively [33]. CT may be used to assess the spine for suspected infection following any surgical or interventional procedure [3,30]. MRI Spine Area of Interest Because of its excellent tissue characterization and anatomic delineation, MRI without and with IV contrast can be utilized for the evaluation of patients with suspected spine infection at the site of a decubitus ulcer or wound [3,7,14,16,24,37,51]. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI for spine infection is 96% and 94%, respectively [14].
Suspected Spine Infection PCAs. Suspected Spine Infection for further evaluation of the involved spinal segment. Imaging can be utilized to distinguish between superficial infection or cellulitis and deeper infections including osteomyelitis and paraspinal or epidural abscess formation [31,48]. The body regions covered in this clinical scenario are the cervical, thoracic, lumbar spine, and sacrum. These body regions might be evaluated separately or in combination as guided by physical examination findings, patient history, and other available information. CT Spine Area of Interest As a result of its excellent delineation of osseous detail and greater sensitivity than radiography, CT can be used in the evaluation of suspected osteomyelitis as a complication from a decubitus ulcer or wound overlying the spine [3]. The addition of IV contrast increases the conspicuity of paraspinal soft tissue abnormalities, such as inflammation or abscess that may be caused by infection. In those cases in which a contrast-enhanced CT is to be performed, it is not necessary or useful to perform a noncontrast-enhanced CT first, because this latter examination does not add more diagnostic information. The sensitivity and specificity of CT for spine infection is 79% and 100%, respectively [33]. CT may be used to assess the spine for suspected infection following any surgical or interventional procedure [3,30]. MRI Spine Area of Interest Because of its excellent tissue characterization and anatomic delineation, MRI without and with IV contrast can be utilized for the evaluation of patients with suspected spine infection at the site of a decubitus ulcer or wound [3,7,14,16,24,37,51]. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI for spine infection is 96% and 94%, respectively [14].