Advances in Musculoskeletal Computed Tomography and Tumor Imaging

Following an update on advances in musculoskeletal MRI in volume 4, this issue of Seminars in Musculoskeletal Radiology deals with advances in musculoskeletal computed tomography (CT) as well as tumor imaging. As for MRI, the trend in musculoskeletal CT has been toward a continuous improvement of image quality while achieving a decrease in acquisition time, artifacts, and radiation dose. Two articles in this issue cover the optimization of radiation dose and image quality in musculoskeletal CT, with an emphasis on recent technical advances such as iterative reconstructions. The advent of dual-energy CT has also opened new perspectives in musculoskeletal imaging, which is covered in two articles. This technique provides new methods for the detection, characterization, and quantification of various disorders such as crystal deposits, but also for image contrast optimization, as well as metal artifact reduction, which is the focus of a separate article.

Recent technological developments in CT have also opened doors to new ways of imaging the musculoskeletal system, allowing the shift from a purely morphological to a functional assessment. For the musculoskeletal system, function predominantly means movement, and being able to image bones and joints as they move in real time with CT has now become possible thanks to recent technological developments. This topic of kinematic CT is the focus of one of the articles in this issue.

Finally, two articles in this volume cover tumor imaging: one on advanced techniques in musculoskeletal oncology and one on the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology guidelines for diagnostic imaging of soft tissue tumors in adults.

I would like to thank all the authors for their excellent contributions and the editors, Dr. Marco Zanetti and Dr. Larry White, for giving me the opportunity and the honor to serve as guest editor. This issue would not have come to fruition, of course, without the excellent work of Joycelyn Reid and her editorial team.