Quantitative evaluation of maxillary bone deformation by computed tomography in patients with leprosy

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 12; no. 3; p. e0006341
• Main Authors: Kasai, Norio, Kondo, Osamu, Suzuki, Koichi, Aoki, Yoshinori, Ishii, Norihisa, Goto, Masamichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 09.03.2018; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Atrophy; Biology and Life Sciences; Bone surgery; Bones; Care and treatment; CAT scans; Computation; Computed tomography; Defects; Deformation; Deformation mechanisms; Deformities; Diagnosis; Evaluation; Facial injuries; Funding; Image reconstruction; Infectious diseases; Leprosy; Maxilla; Medicine and Health Sciences; Methods; Mycobacterium leprae; Nose; Otolaryngology; Patients; Plastic surgery; Quantitative analysis; R&D; Reconstructive surgery; Regressions; Research & development; Research and Analysis Methods; Studies; Supervision; Surgery; Tomography; Tropical diseases; Tuberculosis; Italy; Japan
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006341

Facial deformation as a sequela of leprosy is caused not only by a saddle nose but also by regression of the maxilla, as well documented in paleopathological observations of excavated skeletal remains of patients with leprosy. However, maxillary changes in living patients have been evaluated only by the subjective visual grading. Here, we attempted to evaluate maxillary bone deformation in patients with leprosy using three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT). Three-dimensional images centered on the maxilla were reconstructed using multiplanar reconstruction methods in former patients with leprosy (n = 10) and control subjects (n = 5); the anterior-posterior length of the maxilla (MA-P) was then measured. The difference between the MA-P of the patients and those of controls was evaluated after compensating for individual skull size. These findings were also compared with those from previous paleopathological studies. Three former patients with lepromatous leprosy showed marked atrophy of the maxilla at the prosthion (-8.6, -11.1 and -17.9 mm) which corresponded with the visual appearance of the maxillary deformity, and these results were consistent with paleopathological findings of excavated skeletal remains. Additionally, the precise bone defects of the maxilla could be individually calculated for accurate reconstructive surgery. We have successfully illustrated maxillary bone deformities in living patients with leprosy. This study also confirmed the maxillary regression described in paleopathological studies.