BONE-SCINTIGRAPHY IN THE TREATMENT PLANNI NG FOR HEMIMANDIBULAR ELONGATION

Hemimandibular elongation is characterized by unilateral continuous gr owth of the mandibular ramus and condyle. Skeletal scintigraphy is ind icated for the assessment of prospective growth. When growth has cease d a correcting osteotomy may be performed. In the case of severe activ e growth and fast progressive facial asymmetry the growth centre shoul d be removed surgically by condylectomy. 21 patients with facial asymm etry and/or laterognathia underwent skeletal scintigraphy. 19 patients showed symmetrical or nearly symmetrical nuclear uptake. In 11 cases a correcting osteotomy was performed without any relapse. 2 patients s howed markedly unilateral increased nuclear uptake. One of them underw ent condylectomy and showed a stable result 3 years postoperatively. T he other patient underwent a correcting osteotomy with subsequent recu rrence of laterognathia. By visualization of the pathophysiological pr ocess skeletal scintigraphy yields information for treatment planning in hemimandibular elongation.