ஐ.எஸ்.எஸ்.என்: 2155-9937
Mai Elzahry*, Andreas Eder and Helmut Sinzinger
Abnormal focal tracer uptake in the jaw during conventional bone scintigraphy is a quite frequent finding usually not related to malignant disease. In patients undergoing radionuclide therapy with lanthanoids or rhenium, the appearance is also quite frequent. Itʼs origin so far has not been studied in a large number of patients. Objective, to evaluate the underlying reason of abnormal focal tracer uptake in the jaw in patients who underwent 153Sm-EDTMP therapy for painful metastatic lesions. Methods, out of 138 patients, 82 revealed a positive result, 60 males and 22 females (mean age: 63.9 ± 13.9years; range 19-90 years), with metastatic bone pain were examined. Their lesions were judged by a dentist clinically and radiologically. Results, the most frequent reason of increased focal uptake in the group of mainly prostate and breast cancer patients was inflammation in 13 (24.5%) and 9 (41%) patients, respectively. In the patients below 70 years of age, inflammation was the most frequent reason with (32.7%) while in the older ones of 70 years, it was mechanically irritated by a prosthesis with (50%). In 4 of the patients, the increased uptake of 153Sm-EDTMP was due to metastatic disease as shown by PET/CT and/or MRI. Conclusion, although the number of secondary lesions in the jaw is small (4.8%), the underlying reason in conventional bone scintigraphy as well as in post-therapeutic scintigraphy should be always evaluated.