Idiopathic Bone Cavity: Clinicopathologic Features from a Case Series with Emphasis on Differential Diagnosis of Chronic Apical Periodontitis.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic bone cavity (IBC) is an uncommon bone lesion that usually affects youngsters as an unilocular radiolucency with predilection for the posterior mandible. Because the lesion is frequently located in proximity to the adjacent teeth, chronic apical periodontitis is commonly included as a differential diagnosis. The aim of the present study was to analyze the clinical and radiologic features of a series of IBCs diagnosed in a single service. METHODS: All cases diagnosed as IBC were retrieved from the files of an oral pathology laboratory, and the clinical and radiologic characteristics were described with a focus on the differential diagnosis with chronic apical periodontitis. RESULTS: Thirty cases composed the final sample. The mean age of the affected patients was 22 years old; there was no sex predilection, and most lesions were located on the posterior (47%) and anterior (43%) mandible. Most lesions presented as unilocular radiolucencies (87%), and 90% were located in close association with the adjacent teeth. The associated teeth presented no endodontic involvement, and all proved to be vital. CONCLUSIONS: IBC usually affects young patients as an unilocular radiolucency in close association with the adjacent teeth. Careful radiologic analysis and vitality tests of the adjacent teeth are essential to rule out chronic apical periodontitis, thus avoiding any unnecessary endodontic treatment.

Recall Rates of Patients in Endodontic Treatments: A Critical Review.

The number of patients that return for recall appointments has great importance to validate endodontic treatment outcomes. The purpose of this review was to investigate the rate of return on recall and the main factors that influence this rate of return. A literature review was performed in the PubMed database for the years from 1978 to 2017, using the following keywords: recall rate, endodontic treatment, endodontic retreatment, apical surgery. The inclusion criteria were: prospective studies in English, and in vivo research with humans, which included patient return rates. A total of 35 studies that fulfilled the established criteria were selected. The percentage of patients who returned on recall was 56%. More female patients (60%) attended the recall appointments than male (40%). The three main reasons for not returning were: patients did not observe the follow-up appointment (490), not returning due to a lack of interest (99) and changing their address (222). The age of the patients attending the appointments varied from 28.6 to 62 years old, with the highest percentage of patients that returned ranging from 40 to 52.5 years old. According to the literature the optimal rate of return for follow-up treatment should be greater than 80%, for the validity of the research. However, the reality presented in the studies is far from ideal. Many studies do not even mention these rates of return in their methodologies or in their results, which may mask the true treatment success rates.

Comparative Expression of CD34, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, and Podoplanin and the Presence of Mast Cells in Periapical Granulomas, Cysts, and Residual Cysts.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to compare the immunoexpression of CD34, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and podoplanin and the presence of mast cells with clinical, demographic, radiologic, and histologic features from periapical granulomas, periapical cysts, and residual cysts. METHODS: Thirty-one lesions (5 granulomas, 15 periapical cysts, and 11 residual cysts) were selected. Histologic sections in silanized slides were used for the immunohistochemical reactions. The analysis of the images was performed by using an optical microscope, and data were analyzed with 5% significance (P < .05). RESULTS: Cysts presented atrophic and hyperplastic epithelium in 11 cases (35.5%) and 15 cases (48.8%), respectively (P > .05). The intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate was similar when comparing the 3 groups (P > .05). CD34 and podoplanin expression and the presence of mast cells were similar when comparing the 3 groups; ICAM-1 expression was more intense in granulomas than cysts (P < .05). There were no statistically significant differences associated with the expression of the evaluated markers according to the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate. CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in the expression of CD34 and podoplanin and in the presence of mast cells when the 3 groups were compared. ICAM-1 expression was more common in periapical granulomas.