It was not possible to detect BRAF V600E mutation in circulating cell-free DNA from patients with ameloblastoma: A diagnostic accuracy study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of plasma-based liquid biopsy for the detection of the BRAF V600E mutation in circulating cell-free DNA from patients with ameloblastoma. METHODS: This is a prospective diagnostic accuracy study conducted based on the Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy recommendations. The index test was the plasma-based liquid biopsy, whereas the reference standard was the conventional tissue biopsy. The target condition was the detection of BRAF V600E mutation. The study population consisted of individuals with ameloblastoma recruited from three tertiary hospitals from Brazil. A negative control group composed of three individuals with confirmed wild-type BRAF lesions were included. The participants underwent plasma circulating cell-free DNA and tumor tissue DNA isolation, and both were submitted to using competitive allele-specific TaqMan™ real-time polymerase chain reaction technology mutation detection assays. Sensitivity and specificity measures and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. RESULTS: Twelve patients with conventional ameloblastoma were included. BRAF V600E mutation was detected in 11/12 (91.66%) ameloblastoma tissue samples. However, the mutation was not detected in any of the plasma-based liquid biopsy circulating cell-free DNA samples in both ameloblastomas and negative control group. The sensitivity and specificity of plasma-based liquid biopsy for the detection of the BRAF V600E mutation in circulating cell-free DNA was 0.0 and 1.0, respectively. The agreement between index test and reference standard results was 26.66%. CONCLUSION: Plasma-based liquid biopsy does not seem to be an accurate method for the detection of the BRAF V600E mutation in circulating circulating cell-free DNA from patients with ameloblastoma, regardless of tumor size, anatomic location, recurrence status, and other clinicopathological features.

Does BRAF V600E mutation affect recurrence rate of ameloblastomas? Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to critically evaluate the available data on the association of the BRAF V600E mutation and recurrence rate of ameloblastomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This systematic review was registered in Prospero (CRD42020183645) and performed based on the PRISMA statement. A comprehensive search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases was performed in order to answer the question "Does BRAF V600E mutation affect recurrence rate of ameloblastomas?" Methodological quality and risk of bias of the selected studies were assessed with JBI Critical Appraise Tool. Meta-analysis of quantitative data was conducted with RevMan 5.3 and Jamovi 2.3. RESULTS: The initial search identified 302 articles, and 21 met the inclusion criteria. A total of 855 subjects with ameloblastoma were included in the analysis. The pooled measures for frequency of BRAF V600E mutation was 65.30% (95% CI: 0.56-0.75; p < .001; I2 = 90.85%; τ = 0.205; p < .001), and the pooled recurrence rate was 25.30% (95% CI: 0.19-0.31; p < .001; I2 = 79.44%; τ = 0.118; p < .001). No differences in recurrence rate were observed between the BRAF V600E and wild type BRAF ameloblastomas, with a pooled Odds Ratio of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.56-1.54; p = .78; I2 = 31%; p = .09). CONCLUSIONS: BRAF V600E mutation is a frequent event in ameloblastomas, but does not increase nor reduce its recurrence rate, and thus have a limited value in predicting its prognosis.

Cervical-thoracic necrotizing fasciitis of odontogenic origin in a diabetic patient: a case report.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a severe bacterial infection with rapid and aggressive progression. The infection generally affects individuals with comorbid conditions that lead to immunologic and microvascular deficiencies. It is characterized by necrosis of tissues, mainly in the extremities, trunk, and perineum, and is rarely found in the head and neck. This case report describes the course of NF in a 55-year-old man, highlighting diagnosis, surgical treatment, drug therapy, and supportive measures. The patient, who had chronic alcoholism, systemic arterial hypertension, a smoking habit, and decompensated diabetes (glucose level of 490 mg/dL), was admitted to the hospital with a volume increase in the cervical and thoracic areas with a duration of about 7 days. He presented with fever, dyspnea, and inflammatory signs bilaterally in the submandibular, submental, and superior thoracic regions as well as severe trismus. The patient underwent a surgical procedure to drain the infectious process and to place drains. The patient developed cutaneous necrosis in the cervical and superior thoracic regions, diagnosed as NF. Surgical debridement of all affected tissue was performed. After resolution of the infection, the patient underwent skin grafting with a satisfactory outcome.

BRAF p.V600E Mutational Status Does Not Correlate with Biological Behavior in Conventional Ameloblastomas: A Disease-Free Survival Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of the MAPK pathway appears to exert a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of ameloblastomas, since BRAF p.V600E has been reported in over 65% of the tumors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether the BRAF p.V600E is related to biological behavior and disease-free survival in patients with conventional ameloblastomas. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study based on the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) recommendations. The study population consisted of individuals treated for conventional ameloblastomas. Clinical, imaging, histomorphological, immunohistochemical (Ki67 and CD138/syndecan-1), and molecular BRAF p.V600E mutation analyses were performed. Bivariate statistical analysis was performed through chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to identify predictors of disease-free survival, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Forty-one individuals were included, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.15:1. BRAF p.V600E mutation was identified in 75.6% of the tumors. No association between the BRAF mutational status and other clinical, imaging, histomorphological, and immunohistochemical variables was observed. Only the initial treatment modality was significantly associated with a better prognosis in univariate (p = 0.008) and multivariate (p = 0.030) analyses, with a hazard ratio of 9.60 (95%IC = 1.24-73.89), favoring radical treatment. CONCLUSION: BRAF p.V600E mutation emerges as a prevalent molecular aberration in ameloblastomas. Nevertheless, it does not seem to significantly affect the tumor proliferative activity, CD138/syndecan-1-mediated cell adhesion, or disease-free survival outcomes.

Temporomandibular joint disorders in skeletal class II patients referred to orthognathic surgery: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) in subjects with skeletal class II dentofacial deformity referred for orthognathic surgery, as well as to elucidate its association with sociodemographic and psychosocial features. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders. The sample comprised class II skeletal patients referred to an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery center in the Brazilian Northeast. RESULTS: Seventy-three subjects were enrolled and completed the data collection, which consisted of a physical examination according to Axis I of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders and facial analysis. Women represented 82.2% of the sample. Among the assessed subjects, 68.5% were already undergoing orthodontic treatment, and the mean overjet of patients was 6.97 mm. The prevalence of TMD in this sample was 46.6%, with muscular disorders being the most common. Patients with an anteroposterior discrepancy greater than 7 mm showed a higher occurrence of TMD (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a high prevalence of TMD in skeletal class II patients referred for orthognathic surgery, especially in those with a pronounced overjet, being Group I (muscular disorders) and Group III (degenerative disorders) the most prevalent.

Calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor radiographically mimicking a sinus mucocele.

The calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor or Gorlin cyst is an uncommon lesion with a variable clinical behavior and considerable histopathologic diversity. The authors report a case of calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor that was being treated as a maxillary sinus mucocele. The possibility of mimicking numerous odontogenic and nonodontogenic lesions makes the calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor difficult for a clinical diagnosis. The present case demonstrates that a specific knowledge in oral pathology is required to differentiate odontogenic lesions.

Destructive aneurysmal bone cyst of the mandible.

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is an uncommon osteolytic lesion of the bones, usually affecting the long bones and spine. The lesion is rare in the jaws and is found most commonly in the body and ramus of the mandible. In some cases, ABCs may be present as rdestructive lesions simulating malignancies. In these cases, a careful diagnosis should be done, including in the differential diagnosis malignant tumors such as telangiectasic osteosarcoma and intraosseous fibrosarcoma. Removing the lesion is usually easy if it is confined within the bone, but it may prove difficult if the lesions are multilocular, expansive, divided by multiple bony septa, or destructive or when the cortical is perforated. Therefore, the surgical treatment of the destructive ABCs should be more radical.

Prediction of postoperative facial swelling, pain and trismus following third molar surgery based on preoperative variables.

OBJECTIVE: This paper investigates the relationship between preoperative findings and short-term outcome in third molar surgery. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study was carried out involving 80 patients who required 160 surgical extractions of impacted mandibular third molars between January 2009 and December 2010. All extractions were performed under local anesthesia by the same dental surgeon. Swelling and maximal inter-incisor distance were measured at 48 h and on the 7th day postoperatively. Mean visual analogue pain scores were determined at four different time periods. RESULTS: One-hundred eight (67.5%) of the 160 extractions were performed on male subjects and 52 (32.5%) were performed on female subjects. Median age was 22.46 years. The amount of facial swelling varied depending on gender and operating time. Trismus varied depending on gender, operating time and tooth sectioning. The influence of age, gender and operating time varied depending on the pain evaluation period (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Short-term outcomes of third molar operations (swelling, trismus and pain) differ depending on the patients' characteristics (age, gender and body mass index). Moreover, surgery characteristics such as operating time and tooth sectioning were also associated with postoperative variables.

Intraoral approach for removal of large sialolith in submandibular gland.

Sialolithiasis is a benign pathology that occurs most frequently in the submandibular salivary gland due to its anatomic features. Depending on the size and degree of calcification, a sialolith can be visible in radiographic examinations. Patients commonly experience pain and/or edema when the ducts are obstructed. The authors report two cases of sialolithiasis of the submandibular gland after searching for the source of swelling in the submandibular region. The diagnosis was confirmed by clinical and tomographic examinations. Despite the considerable size of the sialoliths, treatment consisted of the removal of the calcified mass using an intraoral surgical approach. The prognosis is often good and there is generally no recurrence of the condition.

One-stage treatment of hemimandibular hyperplasia.

Hemimandibular hyperplasia (HH) is a rare, self-limiting process manifesting between the first and third decades of life. HH causes facial asymmetry and derangement of the occlusion. Management involves resection of the condylar head and orthognathic surgery. This paper describes the case of a 38-year-old woman with spontaneous onset HH over a span of approximately 30 years. The condition was managed with resection of the condyle with simultaneous orthognathic surgery. The patient is currently satisfied with her appearance and function, and there are no signs of recurrence after 2 years.

Influence of helmet use in facial trauma and moderate traumatic brain injury victims of motorcycle accidents.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research was to study the influence of the use of helmet in facial trauma victims of motorcycle accidents with moderate traumatic brain injury. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the incidence of facial injuries in helmeted and nonhelmeted victims with moderate traumatic brain injury at a referral trauma hospital. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 272 patients predominantly men (94.5%) and between 21 and 40 years old (62.9%). The majority of patients were using helmet (80.1%). The occurrence of facial fractures was most frequent for zygomatic bone (51.8%), followed by mandible (18.8%) and nasal bones (9.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals in the most productive age group are most affected, which causes a great loss to financial and labor systems. It is important to take measures to alert the public regarding the severity of injuries likely to occur in motorcycle-related accidents and ways to prevent them.

Effect of partially selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor in the removal of third molars.

A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was carried out involving 25 patients scheduled for the removal of symmetrically positioned lower third molars in separate procedures. Either 100 mg of nimesulide or 7.5 mg of meloxicam was administered 1 hour before surgery and every 12 hours after surgery for 2 days. Evaluations were carried out in the preoperative period as well as on the second and seventh days after surgery. Objective and subjective parameters were recorded for comparison purposes. The patients having received nimesulide had less of a need for additional pain medication in the first 48 hours and had lower pain scale values (P < 0.05). There was less trismus in the meloxicam group (P > 0.05). Postoperative swelling was lower in the nimesulide group (P < 0.05). All measurements on the second day were lower in the nimesulide group (P < 0.001), and only one of these parameters was lower on the seventh day in the nimesulide group, distance from the lower edge of the tragus to the lip commissure on the operated side (P = 0.009, P < 0.001) compared with another group. Nimesulide proved effective in controlling pain and swelling after surgical removal of the lower third molars, with few adverse effects. Meloxicam proved effective in diminishing trismus.

Central osteoma of the maxilla with involvement of paranasal sinus.

Osteoma is an osteoblastic benign tumor characterized by the proliferation of either compact or cancellous bone. In the jaws, the most of cases reported in the literature presented as peripheral solitary lesions, involving preferably the posterior region of the mandible. However, central osteomas are quite rare, especially in the maxillary bone. The purpose of this article was to present the clinical, radiographic, surgical, and histologic features of a solitary central osteoma of the maxilla with involvement of the paranasal sinus and to review the literature for central osteomas located in the jaws. Our clinical report participates to literature as the 12th case of central osteoma in the jaws and the fourth case in the maxillary bone.

Fracture of the coronoid process, sphenoid bone, zygoma, and zygomatic arch after a firearm injury.

A rare case of fracture of the coronoid process, sphenoid bone, zygoma, and zygomatic arch caused by a firearm is described. A 25-year-old man was hit in the face with a bullet, resulting in restricted mouth opening, difficulty chewing, and pain when opening the mouth. The clinical examination revealed a perforating wound in the right parotid region. A computed tomographic scan revealed a comminuted fracture of the left coronoid process with the bullet stopping in the intact left coronoid process. Treatment was bilateral coronoidectomy associated with speech therapy and was successful. Details of the clinical signs, computed tomography, treatment, and follow-up are presented.

Mandibular osteomyelitis and fracture in a patient with pyknodysostosis.

Pyknodysostosis is a rare, recessive, hereditary, autosomal disease belonging to the group of bone dysplasias. Complications such as osteomyelitis and fractures of the mandible are not uncommon and appear in the most varied forms. We report a case of chronic osteomyelitis with subsequent mandible fracture, which was successfully treated with the use of a reconstruction plate and antibiotic therapy. This article outlines the clinical and radiographic characteristics of this condition based on the clinical case described and proposes an approach regarding the best form of treatment. Considering the risks of fracture subsequent to removal of the graft from long bones as well as the presence of chronic infection, difficult-to-defeat infection, and bone contact on the compression band, the best choice is a more conservative treatment.

Metastatic adenocarcinoma involving several bones of the body and the cranio-maxillofacial region: a case report.

Malignant tumours that have metastasized to the oral and maxillofacial region from distant sites account for only 1% of all malignancies of the jaw. These metastatic tumours are most often located in the mandible, and the majority of these in the molar region. The most common primary sources of metastatic tumours found in the oral region are the lung, kidney and prostate gland for the males, and the breast, genital organs and kidneys for females. The exact location of the primary tumour, however, is often difficult, sometimes impossible, to identify. We present the case of a 51-year-old woman with metastatic adenocarcinoma involving the condyle and mandible, and other bones of the body. The oral presentation of the metastasis was the source of the definitive diagnosis.

Patient's perception of improvement after surgical assisted maxillary expansion (SAME): pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Clinicians often assume that changes following orthognathic surgery are both physically and psychologically beneficial to the patient. The present study investigates patient perception regarding improvement after surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion. STUDY DESIGN: A survey with twenty-three patients was carried out to identify satisfaction with the surgical outcome and assess whether the surgery met patient expectations. General information was also collected on schooling, age, gender, chief complaint and reasons for seeking treatment. RESULTS: Most patients (n = 19; 82%) were advised to undergo surgery by a dentist. Twenty-two (95%) patients reported being satisfied with the operation procedure. Twenty-one (91%) patients reported that the procedure met their expectations. Nineteen respondents would undergo the same operation again and would recommend treatment to others with similar problems. CONCLUSION: The need for surgery associated with orthodontic appliances to correct a transverse maxillary deficiency requires a proper explanation to patients regarding the procedure and postoperative period in order to ensure realistic expectations concerning the surgical goals.

The influence of cryotherapy on reduction of swelling, pain and trismus after third-molar extraction: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Swelling, pain and trismus are undesirable consequences of impacted mandibular third-molar extraction. The authors conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of cryotherapy, the therapeutic use of cold, in reducing undesirable consequences after surgery. METHODS: Fourteen patients aged 20 to 28 years comprised the sample. The authors extracted two impacted mandibular third molars at different times from each patient. Immediately after surgery, the patient underwent cryotherapy on one side for 30 minutes every one and one-half hours for 48 hours when he or she was awake. The patient did not receive cryotherapy on the other side. The authors performed clinical examinations to measure trismus and swelling before surgery, immediately after surgery and 24 and 48 hours after surgery. RESULTS: The authors compared both sides for differences in swelling, pain and trismus in each patient. The results showed significant statistical differences in two of the five points that were used to measure the swelling (Wilcoxon nonparametric signed rank test of linear distances between the angle of the mandible to the pogonion and to the tragus). They found statistical differences between the two sides in relation to the pain; however, they found no significant differences in relation to trismus. CONCLUSIONS: Cryotherapy was effective in reducing swelling and pain in this sample. Despite playing no role in the reduction of trismus, cryotherapy was effective in reducing swelling and pain in this sample, and the authors still recommend it be used. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Cryotherapy is helpful after third-molar extraction. Further studies need to be conducted that use larger samples of patients and other types of therapy, such as low-level laser therapy.

Evaluation of inorganic bovine bone graft in periodontal defects after third molar surgery.

AIM: This study evaluated the e cacy of inorganic bovine bone graft (IBB) in periodontal defect after mandibular third molar (3M) surgery. METHODS: The authors conducted a split-mouth, prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 20 participants with a mean age of 21.60 ± 6.5 years who had symmetrical bilateral lower 3M randomly assigned to receive IBB or left empty (blooding clot). The clinical variables studied were probing depth and clinical attachment level (CAL) at preoperative and postoperative periods of 10, 30, and 60 days. Radiographic measures included the distance from the alveolar bone crest to the cementoenamel junction and the bone density at 30 and 60 days postsurgical procedure. For statistical analysis, we used the paired t-test at a level of signi cance of 5%. RESULTS: It was observed a reduction in pocket depth and CAL in both groups, but IBB did not provide better results than blooding clot (P > 0.05). On the other hand, IBB group showed an increased in the bone density, and a decrease in the periodontal defect on the distal surface of second molar (2M) after 30 and 60 days of surgery compared to the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of inorganic bone graft (GenOx) did not enhance the probing depth after 3M removal. Although the radiographic ndings have showed an increase in bone density and a decrease in the periodontal defect on the distal surface of the 2M, we cannot recommend the use of IBB as a treatment for periodontal defect prevention after 3M removal.