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SPECT/CT Scan: A New Diagnostic Tool in Pain Medicine

  • Anesthetic Techniques in Pain Management (D Wang, Section Editor)
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Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to evaluate the role of SPECT/CT in identifying facet joint arthropathy and the outcomes of interventions with SPECT/CT as an adjunct.

Recent Findings

A positive finding of facet arthropathy on SPECT/CT is associated with a higher likelihood of a unilateral procedure and a significantly more effective intervention compared with those performed on patients with facet arthropathy diagnosed only by clinical and/or radiologic examination. Surgical treatment of SPECT/CT-positive findings appears to have a good effect; however, due to limitations in the available studies, no strong conclusion can be drawn.

Summary

SPECT/CT has a good correlation identifying pain generators in chronic neck and back pain. SPECT/CT-targeted facet interventions demonstrate a higher success rate, but SPECT/CT is not recommended as a first-line diagnostic tool prior to diagnostic facet interventions. More robust studies are needed to confirm the higher success of surgical treatment for SPECT/CT-positive facet arthropathy.

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  1. Jefferson Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    James Pendleton & Andrew Ng

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Pendleton, J., Ng, A. SPECT/CT Scan: A New Diagnostic Tool in Pain Medicine. Curr Pain Headache Rep 27, 729–735 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-023-01177-4

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