Computed Tomography in Bone and Soft Tissue Pathology of the Extremities

Abstract

Patients (40) suffering from various pathological conditions of the extremities were examined by computed tomography (CT) and the results were correlated with conventional imaging techniques: plain radiography, conventional tomograms, angiograms, and radionuclide scanning. The patients'' ages ranged from 4-80 yrs. The study included cases of osteomyelitis, benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors, metabolic disorders and a case of pulmonary osteoarthropathy. Progression and/or regression of osteomyelitis was followed by recording the changes in the attenuation coefficient of the medullary cavity and the extent of the malignant infiltration of the marrow cavity was also determined. Contrast enhancement was valuable in demonstrating the vascularity of soft tissue tumors and in determining the extension of primary bone lesions.