Keywords:
Neuroradiology spine, Interventional non-vascular, CT, Imaging sequences, Dosimetry, Image verification
Authors:
D. Brand1, R. Davies1, J. Kew2; 1SA/AU, 2Woodville, SA/AU
DOI:
10.1594/ranzcr2018/R-0115
Purpose
Epidural steroid injections with CT guidance have become a widely used intervention in the treatment of spinal radiculopathy.
CT guided epidural injections may be required at multiple levels and on multiple occasions for maximal therapeutic effect.
The lowest radiation dose in accordance with the ALARA principle should be a primary treatment goal,
taking into account the requirement for accurate needle placement and verification of epidural position,
before injection of therapeutic substances.
Reported radiation doses vary greatly between different institutions for CT guided epidural interventions.
The purpose of this study is to present a retrospective audit of a private practice patient cohort presenting for a single level CT guided epidural steroid injection utilising an ultra-low dose CT scanning technique permitting rapid and accurate needle placement for steroid delivery.