From the Research
Yes, the hip joint is visible on a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis. A standard abdomen and pelvis CT typically captures the area from the diaphragm down to the ischial tuberosities, which includes the hip joints where the femoral head articulates with the acetabulum of the pelvis. The hip joint is well-visualized on these scans because CT imaging provides excellent detail of bony structures. The scan will show the acetabulum (the socket portion of the hip joint in the pelvis), the femoral head (the ball portion at the top of the thigh bone), and the joint space between them. This makes CT abdomen and pelvis scans useful for evaluating hip joint pathologies such as arthritis, fractures, avascular necrosis, tumors, or joint effusions, although dedicated hip CT protocols may be preferred when the hip joint is the primary area of concern as they can provide more optimal positioning and higher resolution of the specific joint. Some studies, such as 1, have demonstrated the effectiveness of CT scans in detecting abnormalities of the hip joint, including fractures and joint space issues. More recent studies, like 2, have focused on developing methods for evaluating acetabular coverage using CT scans, providing normative data for asymptomatic patients. However, for the purpose of determining visibility of the hip joint on a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis, the key point is that the hip joint is indeed visible and can be assessed for various pathologies, as supported by the most recent and highest quality evidence available, such as 2.