Lumbosacral spine CT

You will be asked to lie on a narrow table that slides into the center of the CT scanner. You will need to lie on your back for this test. Once inside the scanner, the machine's x-ray beam rotates around you. Small detectors inside the scanner measure the amount of x-rays that make it through the part of the body…

You should remove all jewelry or other metal objects before the test. This is because they may cause inaccurate and blurry images. If you do need a lumbar puncture, you may be asked to stop your blood thinners or anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) several days before the procedure. Check with your health care…

The x-rays are painless. Some people may have discomfort from lying on the hard table. Contrast may cause a slight burning sensation, a metallic taste in the mouth, and a warm flushing of the body. These sensations are normal and usually go away within a few seconds.

CT rapidly creates detailed pictures of the body. A CT of the lumbosacral spine can evaluate fractures and changes in the spine, such as those due to arthritis or deformities.

CT of the lumbosacral spine may reveal the following conditions or diseases: Cyst Herniated disk Spinal stenosis Infection Cancer that has spread to the spine Osteoarthritis Osteomalacia (softening of the bones) Pinched nerve Tumor Vertebral fracture (broken spine bone)

The most common type of contrast given into a vein contains iodine. If a person with an iodine allergy is given this type of contrast, then hives , itching , nausea , breathing difficulty , or other symptoms may occur. If you have kidney problems, diabetes or are on kidney dialysis, talk to your provider before the…

Reekers JA. Angiography: principles, techniques and complications. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 78. Van Thielen T, van den Hauwe L, Van Goethem JW, Parizel PM. Current status of imaging of the spine…