Nuclear medicine imaging of head and face injuries

Abstract

Head injuries, which form approximately 10% of all sports-related trauma in high school sports activities, can have devastating effects on the individual and society. Nuclear medicine has thus far not been playing an important role in trauma to the bony structures of the head, but this might change due to the higher resolution and sensitivity of 18 F-NaF PET for ossal pathology. Especially in the follow-up, 18 F-NaF may become more important, but research is warranted. Concussion is mainly a clinical diagnosis, and imaging techniques do not play an important role. However, new techniques in both cerebral blood flow measurements with SPECT and cerebral metabolism with PET are emerging. These techniques not only give a better insight in the underlying pathological mechanisms of concussion but can also aid in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients suspected of concussion. Actually, the position of nuclear medicine techniques in the diagnosis of concussion has not been determined, so more research is warranted.