ASSESSMENT OF BILATERAL SINUS LIFT GRAFT VASCULARIZATION BY MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

Aim: the purpose of this work is to evaluate angiogenesis in grafting biomaterials with or without the addition of platelet- rich fibrin (PRF) by means of contrast-enhanced magnetic re- sonance imaging (CE-MRI). Methods: bilateral sinus augmentation surgery was performed in a patient of 50 years old with severe maxilla atrophy. The left sinus was grafted only with Bio-Oss®, while in the right sinus Bio-Oss® with the addition of PRF was applied. CE-MRI was performed before the surgery (T0), 11, 25, 53, and 104 days af- ter surgery. Analysis were performed with STIR and conventio- nal TSE T1 weighted sequences. Subsequently, dynamic scans and SPIR sequences after the endovascular injection of a contrast agent were used. Images were examined to evalua- te angiogenesis by the enhancement of the contrast agent in the two different grafts. Results: after 11 days an equivalent peripherical enhance- ment was visible in both grafting sites. At 25, 53 and 104 days a circumferential peripherical enhance- ment was visible, while it was not in the central area of the left sinus graft. The right side showed a wider enhancement of the whole graft starting from 25 days, growing progressively in all successive analysis, and becoming massive at 104 days. Conclusions: CE-MRI offers quantitative parameters to evaluate vascularization of biomaterials. This case report showed that vascularization progressively increased centri- petally around Bio-oss® graft, whereas appeared to be more uniform and well represented in Bio-oss® with the addition of PRF. Further studies are needed to confirm this different trend.Sinus lift