Evaluation of super-hypothermally preserved autologous cranial bones for cranioplasty with SPECT

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinic value of 99Tcm - MDP SPECT in the diagnosis of survival and regeneration of super - hypothermally preserved autologous cranial bones for cranioplasty. Method All 16 cases of skull defect after decompressive craniectomy had been replanted with super - hypothermally ( - 80℃ ) preserved autologous cranial bones. The time of cranioplasty ( namely autologous cranial bone preservation time) was 63 -289 days( 111.7 days in average). 99Tcm - methylene diphosphonate( MDP) SPECT was used to detect replanted autologous cranial bone at the end of 2nd weeks, 3rd month and 12th month after cranioplasty. Results 99Tcm - MDP SPECT examination showed that the radionuclide uptake in grafts at the end of the 2nd weeks was sparse after cranioplasty, which was less than the contralateral normal side. The radionuclide uptake in grafts at the end of the 3rd month and 12th month after cranioplasty were the same as that of the contralateral normal side. Conclusions 99Tcm - MDP SPECT could detect survival of transplanted super - hypothermally preserved autologous cranial bones for cranioplasty and regeneration in medium and long term after cranioplasty. Key words: Cryopreservation; Autologous cranial bone; Cranioplasty; Tomography, emission - computed, single - photon