Bone scintigraphy in the diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis in the maxilla.

hronic osteomyelitis is a disabling disease with a substantial impact on the quality of life.1 Several methods are used in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis. Hyperbaric oxygen has also been used to improve revascularization of bone and soft tissues, and in speeding up the healing process. Accurate assessment of the severity and extent of the disease is essential to facilitate and optimize surgical or antibiotic treatment. For this purpose, different diagnostic modalities are available, including conventional radiography, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and scintigraphic techniques.2,3 The 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate (MDP) bone scan is a reliable method to diagnose chronic osteomyelitis, except for vertebral osteomyelitis.4,5 In 2 cases, we aimed to evaluate the significance of bone scan with Tc-99 in diagnosing jaw osteomyelitis and in evaluating the osteoblastic activity prior to and following hyperbaric oxygen therapy. A 38-year-old woman was referred to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of the Dental Faculty of Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. She was suffering from pain, and a bad odor in her right maxilla. In clinical and radiographic examinations, a large portion of denuded bone was observed in the posterior region of her right maxilla where first molar extraction was performed several months ago. A 43-year-old man C Clinical Notes