APPLICATION OF DIGITAL TOMOSYNTHESIS IN DIAGNOSING SPINAL TUBERCULOSIS – FIRST CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN UKRAINE

Abstract

Diagnosis of tuberculous spondylitis is based on the comparison of clinical-laboratory, bacteriological data and radiological methods. Digital tomosynthesis is a new method of X-ray diagnostics for performing with high-resolution limited-angle tomography at short-pulsed exposures in one pass of the tube with reconstruction of several hundred longitudinal sections of the research object without superposition of tissues. Possibilities of tomosynthesis are studied for various clinical situations. Aim of research. To study and apply the possibilities of digital tomosynthesis in the diagnosis of tuberculous spondylitis, conduct a comparative analysis with other radiological methods. Materials and methods. Digital tomosynthesis was performed for 95 patients with various spine diseases (select group 8.4 % with tuberculous spondylitis) at the domestic digital roentgen-diagnostic complex with the mode of digital tomosynthesis after performing digital projectional radiography of spine. Results and discussion. The benefits of tomosynthesis were shown and a comparative analysis with other visualization methods in the diagnosis of spondylitis was performed. Cases of the first clinical application of the method in Ukraine were demonstrated. Conclusion. Digital tomosynthesis of the spine is a new promising diagnostic tool by which you can obtain qualitative spine images in the form of numerical thin sections with no exaggeration effect. Results are comparable to CT data for detecting bone destruction at lower radiation load levels. Digital tomosynthesis provides better visualization of the small joints of the spine and the ability to evaluate each anatomical element of the vertebra at different depths, helps to detect pulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis.