Comparison between mandibular malignant tumors and inflammatory lesions using 67Ga scintigraphy: Relationship with panoramic radiography, CT and MRI findings

Purpose: Gallium 67 (67Ga) scintigraphy is useful for the estimation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, especially tumor recurrence and distant metastases. We compared mandibular malignant tumors with inflammatory lesions using 67Ga scintigraphy with multimodal imaging, such as panoramic radiography, CT and MRI.Methods: Nineteen patients with mandibular malignant tumors (7 squamous cell carcinoma and 2 malignant lymphoma) and inflammatory lesions (6 osteoradionecrosis, 3 medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw [MRONJ] and 1 osteomyelitis) underwent 67Ga scintigraphy with panoramic radiography, CT and MRI. The statistical analysis with respect to comparison between imaging features of 67Ga scintigraphy and lesions was performed with the Pearson's chi-squared test.Results: 67Ga scintigraphy for 2 of 2 patients with malignant lymphoma were positive (100%), 4 of 7 patients with squamous cell carcinoma were positive (57.1%), and 10 of 10 patients with inflammatory lesions were positive (100%) in the mandible. The detection of squamous cell carcinoma with 67Ga scintigraphy was lower than that of inflammatory lesions (p = .047).Conclusions: 67Ga scintigraphy is useful for detection of malignant lymphoma and inflammatory lesions in the mandible.