Three-dimensional distribution of CT attenuation in the lumbar spine pedicle wall

Abstract

This study investigated in vivo the three-dimensional distribution of CT attenuation in the lumbar spine pedicle wall measured in Hounsfield Unit (HU). Seventy-five volunteers underwent clinical lumbar spine CT scans. Data was analyzed with custom-written software to determine the regional variation in pedicle wall attenuation values. A cylindrical coordinate system oriented along the pedicle’s long axis was used to calculate the pedicular wall attenuation distribution three-dimensionally and the highest attenuation value was identified. The pedicular cross-section was divided into four quadrants: lateral, medial, cranial, and caudal. The mean HU value for each quadrant was calculated for all lumbar spine levels (L1–5). The pedicle wall attenuation was analyzed by gender, age, spinal levels and anatomical quadrant. The mean HU values of the pedicle wall at L1 and L5 were significantly lower than the values between L2–4 in both genders and in both age groups. Furthermore, the medial quadrant showed higher HU values than the lateral quadrant at all levels and the caudal quadrant showed higher HU values at L1–3 and lower HU values at L4–5 than the cranial quadrant. These findings may explain why there is a higher incidence of pedicle screw breach in the pedicle lateral wall.