title: Effects of irradiation on mandibular scintigraphy.
abstract: Technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (Sn) scintigraphy with computer analysis was used to investigate alterations in the pathophysiology of the normal mandible and the pathologic mandible during and after irradiation. Slight but significant elevations of uptake levels were recorded as an early effect of irradiation. The elevations correlated with the duration of treatment and normalized over a follow-up period of 6 to 12 mo. Increased mandibular metabolism was found during irradiation and in osteomyelitis and osteoradionecrosis of the mandible. Scintigraphy with computer analysis proved a simple and valid method in the evaluation of early irradiation damage and pathophysiologic conditions of the mandible. The method can also be used to predict whether the irradiation damage will become irreversible.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010025:Osteoradionecrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging