Pulmonologist-led ultrasound guided lung biopsy safety and efficacy: a 4-year experience from a tertiary centre in Northern Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound guided lung biopsy (USLB) is a minimally invasive diagnostic tool with short examination time and real-time monitoring conducted bedside for accurate diagnosis in order to provide the best treatment. However, it is not widely performed by pulmonologists. We aim to explicate the efficacy and safety of USLB led by pulmonologists. The objective of this study is to assess safety and efficacy of USLB performed by pulmonologists in an outpatient setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled patients who underwent the procedure from January 2018 to April 2022. Under real time ultrasound (Hitachi Medical ProSound F37), thoracic lesions adjacent to the chest wall were sampled with a full-core biopsy needle (CT Core Single Action Biopsy Device, 18G × 15 cm, Vigeo, Italy). Chest x-ray was performed 30 minutes post procedure ruling out pneumothorax. Patients were discharged home 1-2 hours post biopsy. Data was analysed using Microsoft Excel 2010 and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 26. RESULTS: A total of 18 patients (14 males, 4 females) underwent USLB for lung tumours. Biopsies were histologically deemed adequate with an overall diagnostic yield of 77.8% (14/18). A total of 57% were positive for thoracic malignancy (21% squamous cell carcinoma, 21% adenocarcinoma, 15% small cell carcinoma) and another 43% were positive for extra thoracic malignancy (1 hepatocellular carcinoma, 2 DLBCL, 1 Hodgkin's lymphoma, 1 seminoma, 1 thymoma). Four patients had inconclusive results but managed to get positive results from surgical or lymph node biopsy (thymoma and adenocarcinoma). Statistical analysis showed more than two passes are needed to achieve a positive HPE yield (p value<0.05). There were nil complications to all the cases done. CONCLUSIONS: USLB can safely and effectively be performed by trained pulmonologists with excellent accuracy and low complication rate in outpatients.

Bone regeneration at the distal aspect of the adjacent second molar after lower third molar coronectomy: a long-term analysis.

A residual bone defect at the distal aspect of the adjacent second molar may occur after total removal of the lower third molar. Lower third molar coronectomy has been proved to be a safe alternative to total removal, but the extent of bone regeneration at the adjacent tooth after coronectomy is not well reported. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the long-term bone regeneration at the distal aspect of the adjacent second molar after lower third molar coronectomy. Preoperative and postoperative cone beam computed tomography scans were measured to assess bone regeneration at the distobuccal (DB), mid-distal (MD), and distolingual (DL) aspects of the lower second molar. Forty-eight coronectomies in 37 patients (23 female) with a mean±standard deviation age of 29.1±7.2 years were assessed. The mean follow-up was 93.2±8.7 months. The mean bone level increase at DB, MD, and DL aspects was 3.2±1.6mm, 3.5±1.5mm, and 3.2±1.6mm, respectively; the bone levels were significantly higher than the preoperative measurements (P<0.001). Age and impaction patterns were not factors affecting bone regeneration. Based on this study, it appears that coronectomy of the lower third molar brings favourable bone regeneration at the distal aspect of the adjacent second molar.

Anterior open bite correction by Le Fort I osteotomy with or without anterior segmentation: which is more stable?

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the relapse rate of anterior open bite (AOB) correction comparing Le Fort I osteotomy with and without anterior segmentation. The risk factors that might contribute to relapse were also assessed. Lateral cephalograms obtained at six different times were analyzed. A total of 81 patients with AOB were recruited. Thirty-five patients underwent Le Fort I osteotomy without anterior segmentation and 46 patients underwent anterior segmentation. Le Fort I osteotomy with anterior segmentation resulted in significantly more AOB relapse when compared to that without anterior segmentation at 7 weeks postoperative (15.2% vs. 0%, P=0.016). During the early postoperative period, factors that contributed to AOB relapse in Le Fort I osteotomy with anterior segmentation were AOB closure ≥4mm and inferior positioning of the anterior segment >2mm. Over the long term, AOB closure ≥4mm and intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy as the only mandibular procedure were factors identified as causing more AOB relapse in those treated by Le Fort I osteotomy with anterior segmentation. In conclusion, Le Fort I osteotomy without anterior segmentation was found to be more stable in the surgical correction of AOB in the early and late postoperative periods.