Added value of early-phase SPECT over planar acquisition in bone imaging.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the added value of early bone single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) by comparison to pseudoplanar imaging.

Methods: Fifty patients were retrospectively included from 3 centers. Reading sessions were organized using: late-phase acquisition alone; early SPECT and late-phase acquisition; early pseudoplanar and late-phase acquisition. The comparison between early SPECT and MIP was performed using a McNemar Test. Patients for whom early SPECT had provided additional information were also compared with patients for whom early SPECT had not.

Results: Fifty patients were included. Early SPECT was superior to pseudoplanar MIP in 10/50 patients (20.0%, P=0.044). No significant difference was found between this group and the remainder. Early SPECT changed the diagnosis established from late-phase imaging in 21/50 patients.

Conclusions: Early SPECT is a promising tool in bone imaging and change the diagnosis in one fifth of the cases by comparison to pseudoplanar imaging.