Introduction: This meta-analysis aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy and clinical relevance of single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) in comparison to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting degenerative pathologies. Understanding the comparative strengths of these imaging modalities is crucial for optimizing diagnostic strategies, enhancing patient outcomes, and guiding evidence-based clinical decision-making in degenerative disease management.
Methods: Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Scopus, and ScienceDirect to identify studies published within the last ten years assessing the diagnostic performance of SPECT/CT in adult patients (≥18 years) with degenerative pathologies. Sensitivity and specificity served as the primary outcome measures. Seven studies were included in the forest plots for pooled analysis.
Results: The analysis revealed that SPECT/CT exhibited higher sensitivity than MRI (77% vs. 64%; 95% CI 61-93% vs. 43-84%), though this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.31). Conversely, MRI demonstrated higher specificity compared to SPECT/CT (86% vs. 72%; 95% CI 80-93% vs. 55-89%), with this difference also not reaching statistical significance (p = 0.11). Other outcome measures, such as VAS and ODI scores, were unavailable for reliable extraction.
Conclusion : Although SPECT/CT showed a trend towards higher sensitivity and MRI towards higher specificity in diagnosing degenerative pathologies, these differences were not statistically significant. Further studies with larger sample sizes and comprehensive outcome measures are needed to better establish the comparative diagnostic value of SPECT/CT and MRI in clinical settings.
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