[MRT in the diagnosis of mandibular osteomyelitis following radiotherapy]

A prospective study was performed to assess the diagnostic potential of MRI in mandibular osteomyelitis after radiation therapy. A total of 60 MRI studies were performed in 39 patients with lymphoma and carcinoma of the head and neck. Clinically or histologically proven osteomyelitis of the mandible occurred in 10 patients depending on the radiation dose absorbed to bone; 9 of these were unequivocally diagnosed by typical MRI appearance, two cases were false positive. MRI is superior to other diagnostic methods such as conventional radiology and clinical examination. It should be performed routinely in an oncological follow-up after radiation therapy depending on the dental status and radiation dose.