SPIRAL CT WITH 3-DIMENSIONAL AND MULTIPLANAR RECONSTRUCTION IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ANTERIOR CHEST-WALL JOINT AND BONE DISORDERS

Twenty-seven patients with symptoms or clinical findings suggesting jo int or bone disorders of the anterior chest wall (ACW) were evaluated by spiral CT with 3-dimensional (3-D) and multiplanar reconstructions. Preceding conventional ACW tomography was performed in 10 patients. A CW joint and bone changes were visualized more adequately by coronal 2 -D reconstructions based on spiral CT than by conventional tomography. In addition, nonossified costal cartilages and soft tissue lesions we re demonstrated. 3-D reconstructions sometimes added information, espe cially in patients with fracture and dislocation.