Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dynamic CT myelography can identify spinal CSF leaks secondary to dural tears (type 1) and ruptured meningeal diverticula (type 2), but the radiation can be high secondary to multiple successive acquisitions. The purpose of this article is to discuss the procedural approach of a modified dynamic CT myelography technique with single scan acquisitions, reduced contrast volume, and condensed scan coverage and compare its radiation dose with that in traditional dynamic CT myelography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review was performed for patients with spontaneous CSF leaks showing extradural collections on spine MR imaging who underwent traditional and modified dynamic CT myelography. The radiation doses between the 2 cohorts were compared. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients (25 women, 12 men) had a type 1 or 2 CSF leak on dynamic CT myelography. Thirty-one patients had a type 1 CSF leak, and 6 patients had type 2 leaks. The traditional dynamic CT myelography was performed in 25 patients, and the average number of acquisitions per dynamic CT myelography was 3.6. The mean total effective dose per dynamic CT myelography was 31.3 mSv (range, 11.3-68.4 mSv). The modified dynamic CT myelography was performed in 12 patients, and the average number of acquisitions was 2.8. The mean total effective dose per dynamic CT myelography was 15.1 mSv (range, 4.8-24.6 mSv). The effective dose and dose-length product between the cohorts were statistically significant (P < .0001 and .01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Modified dynamic CT myelography performed with single scan acquisitions, smaller volume of contrast, and reduced scan coverage can reduce the radiation dose for type 1 and 2 CSF leak detection.