Scaphoid fracture (dual energy CT)

Case contributed by Bálint Botz
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Sustained a fall.

Patient Data

Age: 30 years
Gender: Female

A hairline, nondisplaced fracture is visible through the middle third of the scaphoid.

The fracture line is confirmed by CT, adjacent bone edema is visible on the dual energy reconstruction as high signal, confirming an acute fracture. 

Annotated image

Magnified key images demonstrating the fracture.

Case Discussion

While not as sensitive as MRI, dual energy CT can be used as an adjunctory tool for evaluating bone edema with minimal added radiation exposure during skeletal trauma CT scans. 

Dual energy reconstructions contributed by Dr Sándor Szukits.

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