Ipsilateral craniofacial uptake of Tc-99m MDP in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: incidence and implication

A five year review of 224 Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate (MDP) scintiscans of 194 patients with proven nasopharyngeal carcinoma revealed evidence of craniofacial asymmetry in 73.7%. In virtually all instances tracer accumulation corresponded to the side of the primary lesion, cervical node enlargement and or cranial nerve dysfunction. It was concluded that the high frequency of asymmetric ipsilateral MDP accumulation about the face may be attributed to one or all of the following: tumour extension into contiguous structures, localised inflammatory or necrotic changes or even tracer uptake by the tumour itself. 5 figs