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Fig. 8 Abdominal CT image set to different clinical read out windows. Coronal plane image from
a CT study of the abdomen and pelvis delineating detail of multiple abdominal organs, in a general
soft tissue window (here, w = 400, l = 60); b
soft tissue window setting (here,
w = 150, l = 88) for enhancing visualization of certain abdominal organs, c bone window setting
for assessment of skeletal structures (w = 2,000, l = 500); and d lung window setting (w = 1,500,
l=
“
hard contrast
”
500) to assess air or gas containing tissues with the body, such as lungs, and hollow visci
−
assessment of the fracture pattern may be needed for treatment planning, again,
conferring a diagnostic advantage on CT (Fig.
10
). Additionally, magnetic reso-
nance imaging may be contraindicated in certain patients, and again, CT may be
helpful as a diagnostic aid. Drawbacks of CT compared to other modalities include
radiation exposure to the patient, higher than for a radiograph, as well as beam
hardening or streak artifact due to dense objects such as seen with orthopedic spinal
fixation hardware [
2
].
