Clinical/methodical issue: Diseases of the jaw, such as osteomyelitis, condylar hyperactivity and tumors need adequate imaging to evaluate the extension and activity for therapy planning.
Standard radiological methods: Conventional planar scintigraphy, orthopantomography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used for the evaluation of jaw diseases.
Methodical innovations: Single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) provides metabolic and morphologic information in one imaging step and is becoming increasingly more available in larger hospitals.
Performance: The SPECT/CT is superior to planar scintigraphy alone, CT and orthopantomography in the evaluation of the extension and activity of osteomyelitis and jaw tumors.
Achievements: In our hospital SPECT/CT has replaced the other imaging modalities in the evaluation of osteomyelitis and condylar hyperactivity.
Practical recommendations: If available SPECT/CT should be performed for the evaluation of osteomyelitis of the jaw.