Orthognathic Surgery in Patients With Von Willebrand's Disease: A Report of Four Cases and Literature Review.

Von Willebrand's disease (VWD), characterized by quantitatively or qualitatively abnormal von Willebrand factor (VWF), is the most common inherited bleeding disorder. There is limited evidence of treatment using orthognathic surgery in patients with VWD. This report focuses on four patients with VWD who underwent orthognathic surgery and received Factor VIII/VWF concentrates (Confact F) preoperatively. One patient with type 3 (severe) VWD underwent delayed extubation owing to laryngeal edema and exhibited epistaxis thereafter. No perioperative complications were observed in any of the other patients. Two of the four patients were diagnosed with VWD during preoperative screening. Most young adults do not experience general anesthesia and, therefore, may not have undergone blood tests at a hospital. Thus, preoperative screening and adoption of a multidisciplinary approach to orthognathic surgery is important in patients with bleeding disorders such as VWD. Close communication between anesthetists, surgeons, and hematologists is essential to ensure effective management during the perioperative period.

A Novel Dressing Method to Achieve Early Natural Tracheostoma Closure.

Tracheotomy is a routine surgical procedure in oral and maxillofacial surgery. After decannulation, spontaneous tracheostoma closure is usually expected. However, wound healing is often delayed, requiring 1 to 2 weeks for healing and resulting in the need for surgical closure. Although many reports have described the surgical closure of a tracheostoma, few reports have focused on the dressing methods for closure of tracheal openings after decannulation. Herein, the authors report a new tracheostoma closure method that does not rely on surgical closure or the adhesive strength of the tape. The authors' conventional dressing method was to place gauze over the tracheostoma after decannulation and apply pressure through elastic tape or with a film dressing to seal the tracheostoma and achieve natural closure by reducing the leakage of air and tracheal secretions. However, the conventional method cannot completely prevent the leakage of air and tracheal secretions. We developed a novel method to achieve early closure by markedly reducing the leakage by partially inserting the gauze into the tracheostoma.

Computed tomography evaluation of risk factors for an undesirable buccal split during sagittal split ramus osteotomy.

Sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) sometimes induces an irregular split pattern referred to as a bad split. We investigated the risk factors for bad splits in the buccal plate of the ramus during SSRO. Ramus morphology and bad splits in the buccal plate of the ramus were assessed using preoperative and postoperative computed tomography images. Of the 53 rami analyzed, 45 had a successful split, and 8 had a bad split in the buccal plate. Horizontal images at the height of the mandibular foramen showed that there were significant differences in the ratio of the forward thickness to the backward thickness of the ramus between patients with a successful split and those with a bad split. In addition, the distal region of the cortical bone tended to be thicker and the curve of the lateral region of the cortical bone tended to be smaller in the bad split group than in the good split group. These results indicated that a ramus shape in which the width becomes thinner towards the back frequently induces bad splits in the buccal plate of the ramus during SSRO, and more attention should be paid to patients who have rami of these shapes in future surgeries.

Protocol for a multicentre, prospective observational study of elective neck dissection for clinically node-negative oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (END-TC study).

INTRODUCTION: In early-stage oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC), elective neck dissection (END) is recommended when occult lymph node metastasis is suspected; however, there is no unanimous consensus on the risks and benefits of END in such cases. The management of clinically node-negative (cN0) OTSCC remains controversial. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the efficacy of END and its impact on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with cN0 OTSCC. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a prospective, multicentre, nonrandomised observational study. The choice of whether to perform END at the same time as resection of the primary tumour is based on institutional policy and patient preference. The primary endpoint of this study is 3-year overall survival. The secondary endpoints are 3-year disease-specific survival, 3-year relapse-free survival and the impact on patient QoL. Propensity score-matching analysis will be performed to reduce selection bias. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Clinical Research Review Board of the Nagasaki University. The protocol of this study was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry. The datasets generated during the current study will be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. The results will be disseminated internationally, through scientific and professional conferences and in peer-reviewed medical journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000027875.

Preoperative transarterial embolization for solitary fibrous tumor of the tongue: A case report.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are derived from mesenchymal cells originating mainly from the pleura. Reports of bleeding SFTs in head and neck regions are rare. A number of reports have focused on tongue SFT treatments, but to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on the usefulness of preoperative arterial embolization. Intraoperative and postoperative bleeding can also lead to airway problems. To avoid unnecessary tracheostomy and ligation of the external carotid artery, preoperative vascular embolism should be considered while removing large tumors or tumors with high blood flow. The current report outlines a case of a 32-year-old woman with a tongue solitary fibrous tumor, who underwent right lingual artery embolization with 300-500 and 500-700 µm embosphere microspheres through a vascular catheter the day before surgical resection. The encapsulated tumor was completely excised under general anesthesia with little to no bleeding during the operation.

The Usefulness of Saturated Salt Solution Embalming Method for Oral Surgical Skills Training: A New Cadaveric Training Model for Bone Harvesting.

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of saturated salt solution-embalmed cadavers for oral surgical skills training related to bone graft harvesting. Two half-day surgical skills training workshops were held at the Tokyo Medical University utilizing eight cadavers embalmed with the saturated salt solution. A total of 22 participants including oral surgeons, residents, and dentists attended the workshop. Surgical training consisted of six procedures related to intraoral and extraoral bone harvesting. The participants were surveyed to assess self-confidence levels for each surgical procedure before and after completion of each workshop. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the differences between each median score before and after the workshop. There were statistically significant increases in the self-assessed confidence scores in bone harvesting procedures for the zygomatic bone (P = 0.003), maxillary tuberosity (P = 0.002), and other sites (P < 0.001). The anatomical features of saturated salt solution-embalmed cadavers were also examined. The textures of the oral mucosa and skin were similar to those of living individuals. The structure of bone tissues was well-preserved and the hardness was realistic. Consequently, all procedures were performed with sufficient realism. The saturated salt solution method has a relatively low cost of preparation and storage, and almost no odor. The authors suggest that saturated salt solution-embalmed cadavers could provide a new model for oral surgical skills training in bone harvesting.

Follicular lymphoid hyperplasia of the posterior maxillary site presenting as uncommon entity: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Follicular lymphoid hyperplasia (FLH) is characterized by an increased number and size of lymphoid follicles. In some cases, the etiology of FLH is unclear. FLH in the oral and maxillofacial region is an uncommon benign entity which may resemble malignant lymphoma clinically and histologically. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 51-year-old woman who presented with an asymptomatic firm mass in the left posterior maxillary site. Computed tomography scan of her head and neck showed a clear circumscribed solid mass measuring 28 × 23 mm in size. There was no evidence of bone involvement. Incisional biopsy demonstrated benign lymphoid tissue. The patient underwent complete surgical resection. Histologically, the resected specimen showed scattered lymphoid follicles with germinal centers and predominant small lymphocytes in the interfollicular areas. Immunohistochemically, the lymphoid follicles were positive for CD20, CD79a, CD10, CD21, and Bcl6. The germinal centers were negative for Bcl2. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of benign FLH was made. There was no recurrence at 1 year postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: We diagnosed an extremely rare case of FLH arising from an unusual site and whose onset of entity is unknown. Careful clinical and histopathological evaluations are essential in making a differential diagnosis from a neoplastic lymphoid proliferation with a nodular growth pattern.

Correlation between the malignancy and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma in the maximum standardized uptake value.

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) examinations are indispensable in determining the stage, evaluating the treatment response, and diagnosing recurrence and metastasis during oral cancer treatment. In this study, we examined the correlation between the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) for 18F-FDG PET/CT and the progressive factors, biological characteristics, and prognosis of oral cancer. We included 52 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma with surgery as the initial treatment. Inclusion criteria included tumor diameter of ≥ 1 cm excluding superficial cancer. We performed 18F-FDG PET/CT examinations before surgery and determined the correlation between SUVmax and clinicopathological factors, such as histological grade, Ki-67 expression, as well as progress factors. SUVmax was significantly correlated with clinical T stage, vascular invasion, lymphatic invasion, Ki-67 expression, and postoperative event (recurrence or metastasis) in Student's t test. Using a cut-off SUVmax of 8.0, clinical T stage, lymph node metastasis, vascular invasion, infiltrative pattern, and Ki-67 expression significantly correlated in chi-squared test. Although observed and expected 3-year overall survival rates were not significantly different, observed and expected 3-year disease-free survival rates were significantly different. Analyzing each clinicopathological factor using various data obtained from 18F-FDG PET/CT scans may be useful to determine prognosis during oral cancer treatment.

Toll-like receptor 2 activation implicated in oral squamous cell carcinoma development.

Recent studies have revealed that Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are highly expressed and activated in many types of cancer. Physiologically, TLR2 recognizes bacteria and other microorganisms in the oral cavity; however, the role of TLR2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that TLR2 is highly expressed in OSCC in comparison with adjacent non-malignant tissue. TLR2 was also expressed in OSCC-derived cell lines, and its expression was activated by ligands derived from bacteria and mycoplasma. Furthermore, to elucidate the mechanism of OSCC progression via TLR2 signal transduction, we focused on microRNAs (miRNAs) that are induced by TLR2 activation. Interestingly, ligand activation of TLR2 induced the expression of miR-146a and we found that downregulation of caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 10 (CARD10) mRNA in OSCC-derived cell lines. Moreover, knockdown of CARD10 induced resistance to cisplatin-induced apoptosis in OSCC cells. These findings suggest that the activation of TLR2 by bacterial components can enhance the progression of OSCC and may be implicated in acquired resistance to cisplatin-induced apoptosis through regulation of the miR-146a pathway.

Evaluation of OK-432 Injection Therapy as Possible Primary Treatment of Intraoral Ranula.

PURPOSE: A ranula is a pseudocyst caused by mucous extravasation from the sublingual gland. Recently, a sclerosing agent, OK-432 (picibanil), has been reported to be highly effective for treating lymphangioma and cervical cystic lesions. The present study assessed the effectiveness of OK-432 injection therapy for intraoral ranula to clarify whether it can be used as the primary treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study was a retrospective clinical study of patients with intraoral ranula who received OK-432 injection therapy from 2005 to 2015. The ranula size was measured on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging studies. We dissolved 1 Klinische Einheit (KE) unit of OK-432 powder in normal saline equal to the aspiration volume. The primary endpoint was the treatment results. The secondary endpoints were the relation between the treatment results and the lesion length and aspiration volume. RESULTS: A total of 23 patients received OK-432 injection therapy for an intraoral ranula. The mean lesion size was 19.96 mm. The mean aspiration volume was 2.14 mL. The number of injections was 1 to 4 (mean 1.70). The treatment results were complete regression (CR) in 18 (78.2%), partial regression (PR) in 3 (13.0%), and no response (NR) in 2 (8%) patients after the last injection. The overall efficacy rate was 91.2% (21 of 23). No serious complications were observed. The lesion length and aspiration volume of the CR group was 17.38 mm and 1.40 mL, respectively. The lesion length and aspiration volume of the PR/NR group was 29.20 mm and 4.80 mL, respectively. The PR/NR group lesions were significantly larger than the CR group lesions. CONCLUSIONS: OK-432 injection therapy for intraoral ranula is safe and effective compared with other surgical therapies. This therapy could potentially become a primary treatment of intraoral ranula.

Chondrosarcoma of the maxilla extending to the pterygomandibular space: a case report and review of the literature.

Chondrosarcomas are rare tumors of which approximately 10 % are found in the maxillofacial region. They range from a well-differentiated growth resembling a benign cartilage tumor to a high-grade malignancy with aggressive local behaviour and the potential to metastasize. We report a case of high-grade chondrosarcoma of the maxilla extending to the pterygomandibular space which was treated with radical surgical excision without neck dissection and postoperative radiotherapy. The diagnosis was a conventional type of chondrosarcoma, Grade III. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient has had no recurrence in the 15-year follow-up period.

Exceptionally large solitary fibrous tumor arising from the cheek: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study with a review of the literature.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare mass-forming soft tissue tumor that occurs most commonly in the pleura, but has been described in various extrathoracic sites. Extrapleural manifestation of SFT, particularly in the head and neck region, is rare. The most common extrapleural site is the oral cavity; these tumors have also been described in the orbit, nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands, and larynx. We report an extremely rare case of a SFT in the subcutaneous region of the cheek. This tumor in the left cheek was a large firm mass, approximately 8.5 cm × 6 cm in size and was successfully treated by surgical resection. Immunohistochemistry revealed reactivity for vimentin, CD34, and bcl-2, but no staining for cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, S-100, desmin, caldesmon, actin, α-smooth muscle actin, CD117, and CD99. Immunohistochemical study is the key to establish a definitive diagnosis of SFT, and ultrastructural study is also useful for making an accurate diagnosis. The patient recovered uneventfully without evidence of tumor recurrence 2 years after surgery.

Cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression is associated with vascular endothelial growth factor C expression and lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Cervical lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is recognized as a poor prognostic factor, although its mechanism remains unclear. Recently, cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) level has been found to correlate highly with vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and lymph node metastasis, as in other solid tumors. However, there has been no report of this correlation in OSCC. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether COX-2 immunohistochemical expression in OSCC was associated with VEGF-C expression, histopathologic parameters, and lymph node metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lymphatic vessel density, VEGF-C, and COX-2 immunohistochemical expression were examined pathologically in 60 specimens of invasive OSCC. Relations of histopathologic parameters to lymph node metastasis were analyzed. RESULTS: Expression levels of VEGF-C and COX-2 and lymphatic vessel density in the lymph node metastatic group were significantly higher than in the nonmetastatic group (P < .01). A significant correlation was found between the expression levels of VEGF-C and COX-2 (r = 0.512; P < .001). COX-2 expression was significantly related to lymph node metastasis (P = .004) and VEGF-C expression (P = .005). Univariate analysis showed that survival time was impaired by higher COX-2 and VEGF-C expression levels. Multivariate survival analysis showed that COX-2 expression was an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: This study showed that VEGF-C expression was upregulated by COX-2 in OSCC. High VEGF-C expression appears to promote peritumoral lymphangiogenesis. These data indicated that lymph node metastasis is promoted by COX-2 and VEGF-C in OSCC.

Bone quality of mandibles reconstructed with particulate cellular bone and marrow, and platelet-rich plasma.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bone quality of mandibles reconstructed with particulate cellular bone and marrow (PCBM) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). We compared the bone mineral density (BMD) and microstructure of PCBM and PRP-reconstructed bone and normal bone in patients. Bone biopsies were taken of 11 samples of PCBM and PRP reconstructed bone and 16 samples of normal bone using a trephine bur. BMD and microstructures were assessed using microcomputed tomography. The compact bone resulting from the PCBM and PRP reconstruction was extremely thin. Analysis of the microstructures, showed statistically significant differences only in trabecular bone number and trabecular bone spaces between PCBM and PRP-reconstructed bones and normal bones. In the case of BMD, no statistical differences were found between the two groups. Lamellar structures and osteocytes were observed histologically in the trabecular bone in both groups. In conclusion, the BMD and microstructures of the cancellous bone in the PCBM and PRP-reconstructed mandibles resembled those in the normal mandibles.