Diagnostic performance of SPECT–CT imaging in unilateral condylar hyperplasia

Nuclear imaging plays an important role in the diagnostic path of patients with unilateral condylar hyperplasia (UCH). The purpose of this study was to determine the performance of single-photon emission computed tomography–computed tomography (SPECT–CT) in a large group of patients with suspected UCH. This study prospectively included 156 patients with a clinical presentation of progressive mandibular asymmetry. All patients underwent 99 mTc-HDP SPECT–CT and extensive baseline and follow-up documentation. The relative activity of the ipsilateral condyle in relation to the contralateral condyle was calculated for both the mean and maximum count, and the diagnostic accuracy of different cut-off values was determined. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the SPECT–CT scan was 0.892 for the mean count and 0.873 for the maximum count. The optimal cut-off of> 8% (SPECT–CT mean count) resulted in a sensitivity of 87.0% and a specificity of 88.6%. SPECT–CT showed good diagnostic performance in UCH; however the benefit of the CT scan is questionable and the potential disadvantages have to be weighed against the benefits when compared to standard SPECT scanning. When using SPECT–CT in the diagnostic path in UCH, a mean value cut-off of>8% for the relative activity between the condyles is most accurate.