Maximum and mean standardized uptake values of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw with bone SPECT/CT: comparison of mandibular pathologies, control and temporomandibular joints

Abstract

Objective: Recently, single-photon emission CT/CT (SPECT/CT) plays an important role in assessing patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). The aim of this study was to investigate maximum and mean standardized uptake values (SUVs) of MRONJ with bone SPECT/CT, especially comparison of mandibular pathologies, control and temporomandibular joints. Methods: 61 mandibular patients with MRONJ who underwent bone SPECT/CT were included in this study. The maximum and mean SUVs of the lesion, right and left sides of the lesion, opposite side of the lesion as control, right and left temporomandibular joints were analyzed using a workstation and software. The SUVs of MRONJ were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s honestly significant difference test. Patient characteristics with MRONJ and SUVs were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U test. P-values less than 0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: The maximum and mean SUVs for opposite side of the lesions (4.4 ± 2.0 and 1.8 ± 0.7) were significantly lower than those for mandibular lesions (18.3 ± 8.1 and 6.3 ± 2.8), right side of the lesions (8.1 ± 3.9 and 2.9 ± 1.3) and left side of the lesions (8.1 ± 3.9 and 2.8 ± 1.4), respectively. The maximum and mean SUVs for right and left sides of the lesions, and opposite side of the lesions, right and left temporomandibular joints were not significant difference. Furthermore, the maximum SUVs of the mandibular lesions were a significant difference for age and staging. Conclusions: The maximum and mean SUVs with SPECT/CT can be useful in the quantitative management of MRONJ patients.