The impact of lymph node density as a predictive factor for survival and recurrence of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

The oral tongue is considered the most frequently involved site in cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Lymph node (LN) density, defined as the number of positive LNs divided by the total number of resected LNs, is considered an important prognostic factor in OSCC; however the cut-off point remains uncertain. A retrospective study was performed involving 104 patients who underwent a glossectomy procedure for oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) between the years 2008 and 2018. LN density and other related prognostic factors, including pathological N-stage (pN), extranodal extension (ENE), perineural invasion (PNI), and depth of invasion (DOI), were investigated in relation to survival and recurrence rates. pN + stage, the presence of ENE, the presence of PNI, and increased DOI were found to be associated with increased LN density values, as well as lower patient survival and higher recurrence rates. The statistical analysis identified a cut-off point for LN density of 2.5%. In advanced stage disease, LN density values above 2.5% had a significant impact on the survival rate (P = 0.005), as well as the recurrence rate (P = 0.038). In conclusion, in addition to other previously known prognostic factors, LN density may serve as a strong prognostic factor for survival and recurrence in patients with advanced- and early-stage OTSCC.

Skeletal stability in patients with clefts after large maxillary advancements using intraoral distraction.

Maxillary hypoplasia is a common outcome in patients with cleft lip and palate after surgical and orthodontic interventions, and maxillary distraction osteogenesis has become a useful procedure for patients with extensive maxillary deformities. The aim of this study was to evaluate long term (two years) stability after maxillary advancement of more than 10mm by distraction osteogenesis in cleft patients using internal devices. We organised a retrospective study on 42 patients with cleft lip and palate using cephalometric analysis before and after maxillary distraction osteogenesis and evaluated them for 24 months. Postoperative measurements showed a marked advancement with an increase of 13.3mm and 10.8° in the length of the maxilla (Co-A) and SNA, respectively, including a shift from Angle class III to class I in dental relations. Follow-up observations showed preservation of maxillary length with a relapse of only 6.0 % (mean (SD) 0.8 (0.7) mm) and 10% relapse in SNA angle (mean (SD)1.1 (1.4) °) one year postoperatively and a negligible regression at the two years' follow up. This large-scale study shows stable results of skeletal advancement using distraction osteogenesis, indicating safe and reliable outcomes among patients with cleft lip and palate.

Sandwich osteotomy for the reconstruction of deficient alveolar bone.

Alveolar bone deficiency is a very common problem encountered by the practitioner when planning dental implants. The severity of the deficiency is variable. Many practitioners perform augmentation using the method they feel comfortable with and do not necessarily use the most appropriate method. This is a retrospective study on 21 patients between the ages of 25 and 63 years exhibiting moderate vertical alveolar bone deficiency and treated by the sandwich technique. Mean vertical bone gain was 7.5mm. Sixty-one dental implants were inserted showing a survival rate of 96.7% with a median of 3.1 years follow-up. Main advantages of the method include minimal relapse, single operation and preservation of the native cortical bone in the occlusal surface. We believe the surgeon should maintain the capability of using different augmentation techniques and utilize them appropriately for different severities of deficiency. We wish to establish a paradigm for using different augmentation methods We recommend using the sandwich technique in the moderate deficient cases as described in this work, using alveolar distraction osteogenesis for the severe cases as described in our previous work, where lack of soft tissue for proper closure is a major limitation, and using guided bone regeneration for minor deficiencies.

Maxillary tumour-induced osteomalacia.

Tumour-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare paraneoplastic form of renal phosphate wasting that results in severe hypophosphatemia, defective vitamin D metabolism, and osteomalacia. In the case reported here, maxillary TIO was not diagnosed for 6years, although initial complaints were reported when the patient was 12years old. Meanwhile she suffered from profound growth limitation, pain, weakness, and spontaneous multiple bone fractures, culminating in complete loss of ambulatory ability and severe limitation in daily activities. At age 18years, she finally received an accurate diagnosis and definitive treatment was administered. She underwent a partial maxillectomy with complete removal of the tumour, resulting in a full cure. Shortly afterwards the patient regained the ability to walk, no longer needing the wheelchair to which she had been confined. This definitive diagnosis was based on three modalities: (1) fibroblast growth factor 23 analysis (high levels of the secreted hormone were found on the left side of the maxilla in the facial vein and pterygoid plexus, pinpointing the tumour location), (2) octreotide scan, and (3) 68Ga-DOTA-NOC-PET/CT. TIO removal via partial maxillectomy led to a complete reversal of this patient's health condition, restoring her ability to walk and function. The importance of prompt employment of these diagnostic modalities and the high level of clinical suspicion required in such cases are clear.

Two-stage reconstruction of the severely deficient alveolar ridge: bone graft followed by alveolar distraction osteogenesis.

Distraction osteogenesis for the augmentation of severe alveolar bone deficiency has gained popularity during the past two decades. In cases where the vertical bone height is not sufficient to create a stable transport segment, performing alveolar distraction osteogenesis (ADO) is not possible. In these severe cases, a two-stage treatment protocol is suggested: onlay bone grafting followed by ADO. An iliac crest onlay bone graft followed by ADO was performed in 13 patients: seven in the mandible and six in the maxilla. Following ADO, endosseous implants and prosthetic restorations were placed. In all cases, the onlay bone graft resulted in inadequate height for implant placement, but allowed ADO to be performed. ADO was performed to a mean total vertical augmentation of 13.7mm. Fifty-two endosseous implants were placed. During a mean follow-up of 4.85 years, two implants failed, both during the first 6 months; the survival rate was 96.15%. In severe cases lacking the required bone for ADO, using an onlay bone graft as a first stage treatment increases the bone height thus allowing ADO to be performed. This article describes a safe and stable two-stage treatment modality for severely atrophic cases, resulting in sufficient bone for implant placement and correction of the inter-maxillary vertical relationship.

Sporadic versus syndromic keratocysts-Can we predict treatment outcome? A review of 102 cysts.

OBJECTIVES: Keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) demonstrates variable growth mechanisms and biologic behavior, partly due to origin and histology. We looked for the most contributing factors in predicting outcome of treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 118 medical files of patients diagnosed with KCOT (by tissue biopsy before surgical treatment) with/without nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) from 1995 to 2015. Data were recorded and analyzed statistically to determine the treatment-outcome correlation. KCOTs in NBCCS patients were termed "syndromic" and random KCOTs termed "sporadic." RESULTS: Of 102 cysts, 32 were diagnosed with NBCCS. Sporadic KCOTs were significantly larger upon diagnosis (p < .017). Factors most indicative of postsurgical complications are older age (p < .011), upper jaw location, and size of lesion ≥9.5 cm². Sporadic KCOTs significantly increased the chances of complications approximately threefold (p < .043). Higher recurrence rate was significant in syndromic cysts (47%) compared to sporadic cysts (20%) (p < .009). Recurrence time was 3 years on average. CONCLUSIONS: Postsurgical complications may be expected in: older patients, upper jaw location, extensive lesions, and sporadic KCOT. Most KCOT recurrence is diagnosed 3 years from treatment.

GAND classification and volumetric assessment of unilateral cleft lip and palate malformations using cone beam computed tomography.

The aim of this study was to propose a classification for unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) malformations based on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, as well as to estimate the amount of bone necessary for grafting, and to evaluate the relationship of this volume with scores obtained using the classification. CBCT images of 33 subjects with UCLP were evaluated according to gap, arch, nasal, and dental parameters (GAND classification). Additionally, these defects were segmented and the amount of graft needed for alveolar bone grafting was estimated. The reproducibility of GAND classification was analyzed by weighted kappa test. The association of volume assessment with the classification (gap and nasal parameters) was verified using analysis of variance, while the intra-observer agreement was analyzed using the intra-class correlation coefficient. The intra-observer reproducibility of the classification ranged from 0.29 to 0.92 and the inter-observer agreement ranged from 0.29 to 0.91. There were no statistically significant values when evaluating the association of the volume with the classification (P>0.05). The GAND classification is a novel system that allows the quick estimation of the extent and complexity of the cleft. It is not possible to estimate the amount of bone needed for alveolar bone grafting based on the classification; individualized surgical planning should be done for each patient specifically.

[Impacted wisdom teeth: To extract or not to extract? Review of the literature].

Impacted wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt and many times the first to be extracted. Unlike the teeth erupting earlier in life, eruption of wisdom teeth is often accompanied by pain, difficulty in mastication, dysphagia and acute pericoronitis which require systemic medication and surgical removal. Wisdom teeth extraction is a relativelycommon procedure in oral surgery. However, the surgical procedure itself is not devoid of complications, particularly those of deep- impacted, full-bony teeth or severely-angulated teeth. There for, there are many cases in which the practitioner prefers to avoid the surgical procedure and instead recommends follow-up routine only. It is a well known fact that the longer impacted wisdom teeth remain in the jaws, the higher the risk for related pathologies such as dental caries, Periodontal disease, cysts and tumors. In addition, as the patient ages, the risk of local and systemic complications increases, during or after the extraction. Our aim was to review the literature regarding the effects of asymptomatic impacted wisdom teeth during the course of human life.

[Distraction osteogenesis of deficient alveolar bone prior to dental rehabilitation].

Implant supported rehabilitation has become very common in treatment plans nowadays, yet many patients lack the vertical and horizontal bone dimensions required for endosseous implant insertion. Distraction osteogenesis is a technique in which bone is generated by progressive elongation of two bone fragments following an osteotomy or corticotomy. Distraction osteogenesis of the alveolar ridge as a treatment modality in implant dentistry is a very useful technique that allows for adequate bone formation suitable for implant insertion. Alveolar distraction can be unidirectional, bidirectional, multidirectional or horizontal. Alveolar distraction osteogenesis can be performed by using intraosseous distraction devices, intraosseous distraction implants or by extraosseous devices which are the most prevalent today. Distraction osteogenesis has many advantages such as gradual lengthening of the bone with no need for an autogenous bone graft and lack of the associated donor site morbidity as well as distraction of the surrounding soft tissue together with the transported bone. One of the major challenges when using alveolar distraction osteogenesis is controlling the vector of distraction, this problem should be further addressed in future researches. We describe different methods for alveolar distraction osteogenesis, including the surgical procedure, latency period, lengthening and consolidation period. We also discuss the advantages, disadvantages and complications of the method. In this manuscript a case of mandibular alveolar deficiency following mandibular fracture and loss of teeth and the alveolar bone is presented. This patient was treated by alveolar distraction osteogenesis with excellent results. This patient was later rehabilitated . using endosseous implants as demonstrated by radiographs. Alveolar distraction osteogenesis provides a method to regain both hard tissue and soft tissue without additional grafting and is an efficient modality in cases of medium to severe bone loss.

Internal mandibular distraction to relieve airway obstruction in children with severe micrognathia.

Congenital craniofacial malformations such as Pierre Robin sequence or Treacher Collins syndrome are associated with mandibular micrognathia, resulting in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to a decreased pharyngeal airway; in severe cases this leads to tracheostomy dependence. We present a series of 18 patients in whom we performed mandibular lengthening using internal distraction devices to relieve airway obstruction. Seven were tracheostomy-dependent and 11 were respiratory distressed without tracheostomy. The mandible was distracted at a rate of 1mm per day. Following 3 months of consolidation for bony maturation, the distraction devices were removed. Results demonstrated forward mandibular elongation of a mean 22mm (range 20-25mm) and an increase in SNB angle and in pharyngeal airway. All patients with tracheostomies were decannulated, and there was an improved airway with resolution of signs and symptoms of OSA and elimination of oxygen requirement in all patients. We conclude that mandibular distraction using internal devices is a useful and comfortable method for younger children to expand the mandible forward and increase the pharyngeal airway.

[Reconstruction of the alveolar ridge by osteodistraction for implant placement].

Alveolar Distraction is a method for reconstructing a deficient or atrophic alveolar bone. Alveolar ridge reconstruction may be indicated for the atrophic alveolar process resulting from maxillofacial trauma, periodontal disease, or post aggressive large cyst or tumor resection. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the method of reconstruction of the alveolar ridge by Distraction Osteogenesis. A total of 32 patients were treated. An alveolar segmental osteotomy was carried out and the distraction device was mounted. In patients with an extensive alveolar defect two distraction devices were placed in order to better control the vector of elongation in both bone edges. The distraction was started on the fourth post-operative day at a rate of 0.5 mm/day as necessary and according to the length of the distraction device, followed by a consolidation period of 90 days. Subsequently, the devices were removed, and dental implants were placed for osteointegration. The amount of elevation was 8-15mm. All the patients had panoramic x ray before the distraction, during the lengthening, at the end of distraction and after removal of the device. Early mineralization in the distracted area was seen radiographically during the consolidation period that increased after device removal. As a result of alveolar distraction, a segment of mature bone was transported vertically in order to lengthen the crest for better implant anchorage, either for esthetic purposes or for functional prosthetic requirements. A total of 68 implants were introduced. In follow-up at 24 months, failure of only one implant was noted, due to inadequate transported bone stability. In conclusion, distraction osteogenesis is an alternative treatment in moderate to severe alveolar deficiencies for an ideal three-dimensional reconstruction with no need for bone harvesting. This method offers the possibility to place dental implants in a correct position to obtain proper prosthetic results.

[Aspiration and ingestion of dental instruments--diagnosis, treatment and prevention].

Aspiration and ingestion of foreign bodies of dental origin during treatment may cause a gastrointestinal and airway obstruction or perforation, and may constitute a life threatening situation. Ingestion occurs more often than aspiration and usually does not cause any clinical signs or symptoms. Most often it will spontaneously rejected from the gastrointestinal tract by peristaltic movement without any coimplication. However aspiration always requires treatment since foreign bodies there may cause inflammatory reaction and even severe obstruction and death. This article describes one case of aspiration and 3 cases of ingestion of dental instruments and materials. We discuss the diagnostic procedure: evidence of clinical signs and plain radiography, CT and the use of contrast material in case of radiolucent foreign bodies. The modern technique of endoscopy is successfully performed for diagnosis and treatment of foreign bodies in case of aspiration with minimal complications. We suggest a step by step protocol of treatment at the dental clinic in the case of ingestion/aspiration of foreign body and discuss several prevention techniques.