Sacral abnormalities--computed tomography versus conventional radiography.

Seventeen examples of different pathologic conditions, including malignant and benign tumors, and inflammatory, traumatic, and congenital lesions involving the sacrum, are presented. The value of computed tomography is compared with that of conventional methods with respect to diagnostic evaluation and clinical management of these patients. Computed tomography proved to be more accurate in delineating the extent of bony lesions, diagnosing adjacent soft tissue involvement, evaluating the progress of a lesion, and defining the approach for biopsy of a sacral lesion or determining the feasibility of surgery.