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CT
Scans for Maxillofacial Osteonecrosis
(NICO)
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ŠThe Maxillofacial Center
for Diagnostics & Research
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Other Links
NICO Clinical
Page
NICO Home Page
Home Page
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Thin-sliced (1.5 mm.) spiral
CT scans allow excellent 3D reproduction of bone defects. Here we see a
large perforation of the left maxillary sinus wall and zygomatic bone in a
patient with facial pain and a history of chronic sinusitis. Biopsy showed
a combination osteonecrosis and osteomyelitis. Smaller defect is on right.
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The Maxillofacial Center, 165 Scott Avenue, Suite 100,
Morgantown, WV 26508 USA
Phone: 304-292-4429 Fax: 304-291-5149 Email:
MFC@aol.com
CT Scans
Routine Computer Assisted Tomography (CT, CAT) scans are very helpful
in detecting necrotic marrow and bone in the rounded ends of long bones,
but they have not proven to be effective in detecting alterations in the
marrow spaces of the facial bones. On the other hand, the new generation
of spiral CT scans can provide very thin-sliced views, as thin as 1.0-1.5
mm., and such views are often able to detect not just destroyed marrow of
the facial bones but marrow which has undergone ischemic damage but is still
viable. Both horizontal and vertical views should be carefully examined for
areas of complete blackness (empty area of cavitation) or hazy, diffuse grayness
(ghost marrow). Occasional lesions will show small focal spots of whiteness
(radiopacity) when fragments of viable bone remain surrounded by death tissues
or when chronic ischemic conditions slowly produce excess bone formation
(condensing osteitis, bone scar).
CT Scans of Maxillofacial
Osteonecrosis (NICO).
All patients suffered from neuralgic facial pain.
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to Enlarge |
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Radiographic
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Thin-sliced CT view of maxilla with 2
cm. area of ghost marrow behind the left incisors, wrapping round the incisive
canal. |
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Additional
scans: Click on the photo on the left. |
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