Comparison between mandibular malignant tumors and inflammatory lesions using 67Ga scintigraphy: Relationship with panoramic radiography, CT and MRI findings

Abstract

Purpose: Gallium 67 (⁶⁷Ga) scintigraphy is useful for the estimation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, especially tumor recurrence and distant metastases. We compared mandibular malignant tumors with inflammatory lesions using ⁶⁷Ga scintigraphy with multimodal imaging, such as panoramic radiography, CT and MRI.

Methods: Nineteen patients with mandibular malignant tumors (7 squamous cell carcinoma and 2 malignant lymphoma) and inflammatory lesions (6 osteoradionecrosis, 3 medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw [MRONJ] and 1 osteomyelitis) underwent ⁶⁷Ga scintigraphy with panoramic radiography, CT and MRI. The statistical analysis with respect to comparison between imaging features of ⁶⁷Ga scintigraphy and lesions was performed with the Pearson's chi-squared test.

Results: ⁶⁷Ga scintigraphy for 2 of 2 patients with malignant lymphoma were positive (100%), 4 of 7 patients with squamous cell carcinoma were positive (57.1%), and 10 of 10 patients with inflammatory lesions were positive (100%) in the mandible. The detection of squamous cell carcinoma with ⁶⁷Ga scintigraphy was lower than that of inflammatory lesions (p = .047).

Conclusions: ⁶⁷Ga scintigraphy is useful for detection of malignant lymphoma and inflammatory lesions in the mandible.