Osteomyelitis is not commom in children. A 4 year-old boy was referred to our hospital for treatment of left mandibular swelling. Orthopantograms showed a moth-eaten appearance from D to the left mandibular ramus.
The swelling was relieved by the administration of antibiotics, extraction of E and curettage. Histopathological diagnosis was osteomyelitis of the mandibule. However, after treatment swelling recurred several times over about one year. The area which showed a motheaten appearance returned to an almost normal appearance compared with the previously taken orthopantograms. However, CT revealed separated bone (sequestration) and periosteal new bone formation at the angle of the left mandibule.
Megnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated decreased marrow signal intensity on T1-weighted images and increased signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Sequestrectomy and osteoplasty were performed. About two years postoperatively, clinical examination showed relatively good progress.
We found that MRI was useful as a diagnostic technique and for follow up of osteomyelitis of the jaw.
