Thoracic spine CT shows the structure and density of the thoracic vertebrae, the spinal canal and the rib-vertebra joints. It detects traumatic, tumour, inflammatory and degenerative changes.
- Duration5 min
- Contrastusually not needed
- Preparationnone
- Report30 min – 1 hour
What it shows
- Fractures of the vertebral bodies and processes
- Benign and malignant tumours, metastases to the vertebrae
- Osteoporosis
- Spondylosis, arthrosis of the rib-vertebra joints
- Destructive processes, including infection and tuberculosis
- Narrowing or widening of the spinal canal
- Developmental anomalies of the vertebrae
- Spinal changes in rheumatic diseases (ankylosing spondylitis)
When it is recommended
- Back injury
- Back pain of unclear cause
- Posture changes of unclear cause
- Suspected tumour or metastases in the spine
- Results of other tests do not match the symptoms and clinical picture
- Contraindications to MRI
Good to know
- MRI shows discs, ligaments and the spinal cord in more detail; however, disc herniations are rare in the thoracic spine and most changes involve bone, so CT is often chosen here.
- The lungs, pleura and mediastinum are partly visible on the images: pain in the upper back is not always caused by the spine.
General information about CT — safety, contraindications, contrast and what to expect — is on the CT page.