Retroodontoid Pseudotumor Related to Development of Myelopathy Secondary to Atlantoaxial Instability on Os Odontoideum.

Retroodontoid pseudotumor (ROP) is a nonneoplasic lesion of unknown etiology, commonly associated with inflammatory conditions, and the term of pannus is usually used. Less frequently, ROP formation can develop with other noninflammatory entities, with atlantoaxial instability as most accepted pathophysiological mechanism for posttraumatic or degenerative ROP. As it can clinically and radiologically mimic a malignant tumor, it is paramount for the radiologist to know this entity. Magnetic resonance imaging is the modality of choice to reveal the possible severe complication of ROP in the form of a compressive myelopathy of the upper cervical cord. The purpose of the surgical treatment is the regression or complete disappearance of ROP, with posterior decompression by laminectomy and posterior C1-C2 or occipitocervical fixation. We present the case of an elderly patient with retroodontoid soft tissue mass secondary to a chronic atlantoaxial instability on os odontoideum, an extremely rare cause of ROP. The patient developed a posttraumatic cervical myelopathy related to the decompensation of this C1-C2 instability responsible for the formation of a compressive ROP. We will overview the retroodontoid pseudotumor and its differential diagnosis.

Rural dental program in Haiti.

A rural dental program located on La Gonâve, an island near the coast of Haiti is described along with demographic characteristics of the local population. The oral health of 61 adolescents and young adults seen during screening examinations was assessed. Caries free individuals made up 14.8% of the population. The mean DMFT for the group was 4.20. The OHIS score for the sample was 1.35; the PI score was 0.39. No significant association was found between DMFT, OHIS, PI and sex. One subject had a PI score 5.8 standard deviations from the mean score for the group and exhibited signs suggesting juvenile periodontitis.

Oral health of children of migrant farm workers in northwest Michigan.

A considerable number of Hispanic agricultural workers come to Northwest Michigan during the summer every year to harvest fruit and vegetable crops. The Department of Community Dentistry of The University of Michigan School of Dentistry helps provide dental services for these migrant workers and their families. Some 203 five-to-14-year-old children of migrant farm workers were examined for caries and periodontal condition and the results compared with recent national surveys. Traditional indicators of dental caries experience (DMFT/dft and DMFS/dfs indices), periodontal disease (PI), and oral cleanliness (OHI-S) were used by one examiner. These migrant children presented higher numbers of decayed teeth and lower numbers of restored teeth than United States schoolchildren generally. Migrant children also presented less caries-free teeth and higher PI and OHI-S scores than United States children generally.