title: Qualitative bone CT as a tool to assess vascularization in irradiated bone: an animal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper was to find a correlation between laser doppler flowmetry (LDF) and the bone mineral density quotient (BMDQ) to evaluate irradiated bone quality preoperatively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Premolars and molars were extracted from six minipigs. After a three-month healing period, three animals received irradiation at a total dose of 24 Gy. Three months after irradiation, quantitative computed tomography was performed using a calibration bone phantom to determine the 120-position BMDQ in the alveolar bone. A drill template was created to define the exact location for measurement. LDF was then recorded after osteotomy of the residual alveolar ridge. The correlation between the BMDQ and LDF was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a linear negative correlation between LDF and BMDQ in non-irradiated bone (r = -0.435, P = 0.001) and less pronounced also in irradiated bone (r = -0.309, P = 0.017). In both non-irradiated and irradiated bone, we found distinct differences between the maxilla and mandible with respect to BMDQ. However, a clear difference in mandibular and maxillary vascularity was only seen in non-irradiated bone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In non-irradiated bone, LDF and BMDQ were inversely correlated. In irradiated bone, the BMDQ alone is not an adequate preoperative tool for evaluating bone quality because it was not correlated with bone perfusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands. bernd.lethaus@mumc.nl
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lethaus
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poort
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kloss-Brandstätter
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boeckmann
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kessler
mesh_terms: D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000528:radiation effects; D015519:Bone Density / Q000528:radiation effects; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008334:Mandible / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects; D008437:Maxilla / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000528:radiation effects; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014081:Tooth Extraction