Vascularisation of ocular coralline hydroxyapatite implants

Eur J Nucl Med. 1994 Dec;21(12):1343-5. doi: 10.1007/BF02426700.

Abstract

Vascularisation of coralline hydroxyapatite used to replace the enucleated bulb is of critical importance for the uncomplicated implantation of a motility peg connecting the implant with the cosmetic prosthesis. Technetium-99m diphosphopropanedicarboxylic acid (DPD) single-photon emission tomography (SPET) was used to evaluate the rate of vascularisation as well as the time required for completion of vascularisation. Twenty-four patients were enrolled in the study, which was designed to evaluate vascularisation 10 days, 2 months and 4 months after implantation of a coralline implant. Nineteen patients completed the study and the visual impression of the completion of the vascularisation was scored from 0 (no vascularisation) to + (complete vascularisation) for each patient. No tracer accumulation was detected in any patient at the 10-day examination. Increasing vascularisation was demonstrated with time, and full vascularisation of the coralline implant was seen in all but one case by 4 months after implantation. We conclude that vascularisation of ocular coralline hydroxyapatite implants occurs early and is completed by 4 months after implantation in most cases, but should be confirmed at this time by 99mTc-DPD SPET.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diphosphonates*
  • Durapatite*
  • Eye Enucleation*
  • Eye, Artificial*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / diagnostic imaging
  • Orbit / blood supply*
  • Orbit / surgery
  • Organotechnetium Compounds*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Prostheses and Implants*
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

Substances

  • Diphosphonates
  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • technetium Tc 99m 1,1-diphosphonopropane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid
  • Durapatite