What is a CT spine Scan Used For?

A CT spine scan can help doctors:

• Detect or rule out spinal damage in patients who have sustained injuries
• Examine spinal fracture
• Evaluate the condition of the spine before and after surgery
• Detect tumors in the vertebral column, including those that have spread there from another area of the body
• Determine if bone is pushing against spinal nerve roots

• Detect malignant (cancerous) cells in the vertebrae that can indicate the presence of a tumour elsewhere in the body
• Identify the root cause of spinal pain
• Measure bone density in the spine to determine the risk of vertebral fractures in patients with osteoporosis
• Guide biopsies or other diagnostic procedures
• Remove fluid from an abscess
• Identify and plan treatment for spinal trauma
• Monitor the state of various conditions, such as:
  • Narrowing of the spinal canal
  • Vertebral fracture
  • Spinal infection
  • Arthritis

CT spine scan can be combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to provide information about the above-mentioned conditions.