Submandibular gland involvement in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The submandibular gland (SMG) is routinely excised during neck dissection. Given the importance of the SMG in saliva production, it is important to understand its involvement rate by cancer tissue and the feasibility of its preservation. METHODS: Retrospective data were collected from five academic centers in Europe. The study involved adult patients affected by primary oral cavity carcinoma (OCC) undergoing tumor excision and neck dissection. The main outcome analyzed was the SMG involvement rate. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were also conducted to provide an updated synthesis of the topic. RESULTS: A total of 642 patients were enrolled. The SMG involvement rate was 12/642 (1.9%; 95% CI 1.0-3.2) when considered per patient, and 12/852 (1.4%; 95% CI 0.6-2.1) when considered per gland. All the glands involved were ipsilateral to the tumor. Statistical analysis showed that predictive factors for gland invasion were: advanced pT status, advanced nodal involvement, presence of extracapsular spread and perivascular invasion. The involvement of level I lymph nodes was associated with gland invasion in 9 out of 12 cases. pN0 cases were correlated with a reduced risk of SMG involvement. The review of the literature and the meta-analysis confirmed the rare involvement of the SMG: on the 4458 patients and 5037 glands analyzed, the involvement rate was 1.8% (99% CI 1.1-2.7) and 1.6% (99% CI 1.0-2.4), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of SMG involvement in primary OCC is rare. Therefore, exploring gland preservation as an option in selected cases would be reasonable. Future prospective studies are needed to investigate the oncological safety and the real impact on quality of life of SMG preservation.

Ameloblastomas of the mandible and maxilla.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on issues in managing ameloblastomas of the mandible and maxilla. We will refer to current practice in the treatment of ameloblastomas based on the available evidence. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent reviews have been trying to establish natural history, growth patterns and malignant potential. This provides the clinicians and the patients with useful prognostic information. Controversies in management of ameloblastomas in relation to the type, age and site exist. This paper aims to categorize these issues. More recently, the authors have adopted the staged treatment approach as an additional step to ensure margin clearance. SUMMARY: Current evidence favours radical resection to provide better control rates. This applies to maxillary lesions of all ages, and solid mandibular lesions in adults (>18 years) where growth has ceased and the patient has matured enough to withstand the impact of resection and reconstruction. Conservative management is advocated for unicystic lesions with good control rates. In children and adolescents, a conservative approach is recommended. This approach aids to minimize both psychological and the impact on growth. Furthermore, most of the lesions are unicystic and the recurrent lesions have been shown to be much smaller and can be managed promptly within a good healthcare system.

Fall in peptic ulcer mortality associated with increased consultant input, prompt surgery and use of high dependency care identified through peer-review audit.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with peptic ulceration continue to present to surgeons with complications of bleeding or perforation and to die under surgical care. This study sought to examine whether improved consultant input, timely interventions and perioperative care could reduce mortality from peptic ulcer. DESIGN: Prospective collection of peer-review mortality data using Scottish Audit of Surgical Mortality methodologies (http://www.SASM.org) and analysed using SPSS. SETTING: Secondary care; all hospitals in Scotland, UK, admitting surgical patients over 13 years (1994-2006). PARTICIPANTS: 42 736 patients admitted (38 782 operative and 3954 non-operative) with peptic ulcer disease; 1952 patients died (1338 operative and 614 non-operative deaths) with a diagnosis of peptic ulcer. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Adverse events; consultant presence at operation, operations performed within 2 h and high dependency/intensive therapy unit (HDU/ITU) use. RESULTS: Annual mortality fell from 251 in 1994 to 83 in 2006, proportionately greater than the reduction in hospital admissions with peptic ulcer. Adverse events declined over time and were rare for non-operative patients. Consultant surgeon presence at operation rose from 40.0% in 1994 to 73.4% in 2006, operations performed within 2 h of admission from 10.3% in 1994 to 28.1% in 2006 and HDU/ITU use from 52.7% in 1994 to 84.4% in 2006. Consultant involvement (p=0.005) and HDU/ITU care (p=0.026) were significantly associated with a reduction in operative deaths. CONCLUSION: Patients with complications of peptic ulceration admitted under surgical care should be offered consultant surgeon input, timely surgery and HDU/ITU care.

Microbiology of odontogenic infections in deep neck spaces: a retrospective study.

The primary treatment of deep neck spaces odontogenic infection (DNSOI) with suppuration is surgery. Systemic antimicrobial therapy is an important adjunct. The initial prescription of antimicrobial therapy is empirical. Over the last decade we have observed a change in practice with the use of second-generation cephalosporins, in conjunction with metronidazole, replacing benzylpencillin and metronidazole. More recently evidence has emerged suggesting that antimicrobial resistance in nosocomial infections could be related to the widespread use of second and third-generation cephalosporins. This study was therefore initiated to determine whether this change in prescribing was justified. A total of 75 cases were retrospectively identified by scrutiny of the operating theatre data. These patients presented with significant DNSOI that required surgical drainage. Streptococcus milleri and mixed anaerobes were predominant. Only in three cases (4%) there were penicillin-resistant microorganisms. The substitution of benzylpenicillin for cefuroxime as an initial empiric therapy for DNSOI seems likely to have been equally efficacious in the large majority of cases. On the other hand, studies in preference of cephalosporins are based on in vitro trials. A multi-centre randomized controlled clinical trial directly comparing initial empiric second-generation cephalosporin therapy with benzylpenicillin in non-allergic patients is justified.

Identification of bacteria associated with spreading odontogenic infections by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the bacterial species associated with spreading odontogenic infections (SOIs). STUDY DESIGN: Pus samples from 4 cases of SOI were analyzed by microbiological culture methods for the presence of bacteria, and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, cloning, and sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. RESULTS: Culture methods identified species from the genera Prevotella, Streptococcus, and Fusobacterium, as well as anaerobic streptococci. Molecular detection methods identified a far more diverse microflora. The predominant genus detected was Prevotella, representing 102 (50.2%) of 203 clones analyzed. Prevotella oris was the most abundant species identified, representing 45 (22.2%) of 203 clones analyzed. Twelve clones (5.9%) represented uncultivable species, namely Prevotella PUS9.180, an uncultured Peptostreptococcus species, and an uncultured bacterium belonging to the Bacteroidetes phylum. CONCLUSIONS: Prevotella species may play an important role in SOIs, and further work to examine in more detail the pathogenicity determinants of these organisms and associated host responses is warranted.