2018 Volume 52 Issue 1 Pages 31-35
We studied computed tomography (CT) images and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of osteomyelitis cases to clarify radiographic features, especially osteoradionecrosis (ORN) and medicationrelated osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). Fifteen patients suffering from ORN, 18 MRONJ patients, and 53 patients with nonORN/MRONJ were enrolled in this study. We studied these three categories of osteomyelitis based on clinical diagnoses. CT findings including periosteal reaction, pathological fracture, reactive sclerosis, radiolucency, bone expansion, sequestrum, and MRI findings related to bone marrow changes were evaluated independently by two radiologists. The distribution of gender and the incidence in periosteal reactions were compared between ORN and MRONJ using a 2 x 2 chi square test and Fisher's test. Pathological fractures were easily detectable on CT images of ORN, while periosteal reactions tended to occur more often in MRONJ. No significant gender difference was found between ORN and MRONJ. Nor was there any difference in the incidence of periosteal reactions. Distinguishing features were observed on images of ORN and MRONJ that were different from nonORN/MRONJ. CT and MRI are useful in planning surgical treatment as they show findings peculiar to ORN or MRONJ. (J Osaka Dent Univ 2018; 52: 31-35)
