Single-photon emission CT in the assessment of low back pain in young athletes

Fifty-two teenage and young adult athletes (ages 12-24 years) with low back pain (LBP) underwent routine lumbar radiography and bone scintigraphy including planar and single-photon CT and SPECT imaging. This paper illustrates the significant limitations of routine radiography and the importance of SPECT bone scintigraphy in evaluating young athletes with LBP and suspected spondylolysis; the increased sensitivity and specificity of SPECT compared to planar scintigraphy in the diagnosis of spondylolysis; and the potential utility of follow-up SPECT studies in evaluating success of therapy in athletes with initially positive diagnostic indicators for spondylolysis or impending spondylolysis