BIOSTEREOMETRIC MEASUREMENT OF ORAL TUMOR-GROWTH - DESCRIPTION OF THETECHNIQUE AND CASE-REPORT

Following radiotherapy, it may be difficult to determine clinically wh ether tumour regression, stabilization or growth has occurred. Traditi onal diagnostic imaging may not be possible due to the small size of t he tumour and the proximity of metallic restorations. A case of squamo us cell carcinoma of the mandibular alveolar process in which these pr oblems arose is presented. A computer-assisted biostereometric techniq ue was used to identify volumetric change of the tumour. Polyvinylsilo xane impressions were obtained to record the anatomy of the tumour sit e. From these, stone models were made at four and eight weeks followin g radiotherapy. Using optical mapping techniques, tumour growth was de monstrated which was not evident on follow-up examinations. The method ology of biostereometry is presented and its advantages and potential applications are discussed.