Advanced

AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chong, J. Articles by Ginsberg, L. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chong, J. Articles by Ginsberg, L. E.

American Journal of Neuroradiology 21:175-178 (1 2000)
© 2000 American Society of Neuroradiology

ARTICLE

Masticator Space Abnormalities Associated with Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis: MR and CT Findings in Five Patients

June Chong^a, Lisa K. Hinckley^a and Lawrence E. Ginsberg^,a

^a From the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Radiology, Houston, TX.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Imaging of patients with a clinical diagnosis of mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is often performed to support that clinical suspicion, evaluate the extent of the disease, or exclude coexistent tumor recurrence. The purpose of our study was to describe the clinical, MR imaging, and CT features of five patients with mandibular ORN associated with prominent soft-tissue abnormality in the adjacent masticator muscles.

METHODS: The MR and CT examinations of five patients with mandibular ORN associated with soft-tissue abnormalities in the adjacent masticator muscles were reviewed. All patients had received external beam radiotherapy for primary head and neck malignancies, with a total radiation dose range of 60 Gy to 69 Gy in 30 to 38 fractions.

RESULTS: CT revealed the typical osseous findings of cortical disruption, trabecular disorganization, and fragmentation in all five patients. Abnormal diffuse enhancement of the adjacent masseter and pterygoid muscles was noted in all patients. Four patients had prominent mass-like thickening of these muscles adjacent to the osseous abnormality. Of the three patients who underwent MR imaging, all showed homogeneous abnormal T1 hypointensity, T2 hyperintensity, and intense enhancement of the bone marrow in the involved mandible. The masticator muscles adjacent to the osseous abnormality also showed abnormal T2 hyperintensity and intense diffuse enhancement on MR images.

CONCLUSION: Mandibular ORN can be associated with prominent soft-tissue thickening and enhancement in the adjacent musculature. These changes can appear mass-like and are not related to tumor recurrence or metastatic disease.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. G. Fox, L. W. Bancroft, J. J. Peterson, M. J. Kransdorf, S. P. TerKonda, and M. I. O'Connor MRI appearance of myocutaneous flaps commonly used in orthopedic reconstructive surgery. Am. J. Roentgenol., September 1, 2006; 187(3): 800 - 806. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]