Utilization of Hybrid Imaging Techniques in Diagnosis of Facet Joint Arthropathy: A Narrative Review on Three Modalities.

Facet joint osteoarthritis/arthropathy of the spine is a common cause of back and neck pain which frequently overlaps clinically with other pathologies of the spine. Due to the possible overlap, it is crucial to have an accurate diagnostic strategy, especially when determining the management approach. To this date, various strategies were suggested and adopted, with a number of these still being utilized in clinics. Over the years, due to the disadvantages of single modality imaging methods (Computerized Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Single-photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT)) the interest on radiological examination started to move towards hybrid imaging techniques. Although the data is mixed, many initial studies show promise. However, there is relatively little data with comparative medial branch blocks (MBBs), and further investigation is needed. Given the advantages and disadvantages of these new techniques, the imaging results have to be interpreted within clinical context and with consideration of the current state of knowledge in decision making process.