Carotid Artery Stenosis on Panoramic Radiographs and CT Scans in Patients With Malignancies After Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to identify the progression of carotid artery stenosis (CAS) in patients with head and neck cancer following radiation therapy (RT) by characterizing associated risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Panoramic radiographs (OPG), computed tomography (CT) scans, cone-beam CT (CBCT) scans, and ultrasonography (US) of 69 patients with head and neck tumors were selected and analyzed to identify the presence of CAS. Data on tumor location, smoking status, hypertension (HTN), hyperlipidemia (HLD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and treatment were collected from the patients' medical records. Patients who received chemotherapy or no treatment were excluded from the study. The differential diagnosis of other radiopacities and anatomical landmarks were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups: those with CAS (group1) and those without CAS (group 2) and their clinical information was compared. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CAS on the panoramic radiographs was 16%. Of the 69 patients, 44 underwent radiography before and after radiotherapy, only seven had mild CAS on radiographs after radiotherapy, and no significant difference in CAS was identified before and after radiotherapy. There were also no differences between the groups regarding age, sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, tumor location, and RT dose before and after radiation (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy does not seem to affect the prevalence of CAS, although it has been identified in some patients after radiotherapy completion.

Clinical Experience with Autofluorescence Guided Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Surgery.

In our study, the effect of the use of autofluorescence (Visually Enhanced Lesion Scope-VELscope) on increasing the success rate of surgical treatment in oral squamous carcinoma (OSCC) was investigated. Our hypothesis was tested on a group of 122 patients suffering from OSCC, randomized into a study and a control group enrolled in our study after meeting the inclusion criteria. The preoperative checkup via VELscope, accompanied by the marking of the range of a loss of fluorescence in the study group, was performed before the surgery. We developed a unique mucosal tattoo marking technique for this purpose. The histopathological results after surgical treatment, i.e., the margin status, were then compared. In the study group, we achieved pathological free margin (pFM) in 55 patients, pathological close margin (pCM) in 6 cases, and we encountered no cases of pathological positive margin (pPM) in the mucosal layer. In comparison, the control group results revealed pPM in 7 cases, pCM in 14 cases, and pFM in 40 of all cases in the mucosal layer. This study demonstrated that preoperative autofluorescence assessment of the mucosal surroundings of OSCC increased the ability to achieve pFM resection 4.8 times in terms of lateral margins.

Novel Local Chimeric Flap Based on Tunnelized Facial Artery Myomucosal Island Flap and Submandibular Gland Flap for Reconstructions After Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Surgery.

The reconstruction of oral tongue and floor of mouth defects after resections of squamous cell carcinoma is a challenging task in reconstructive surgery aiming for appropriate restoration of oral function and quality of life improvement. In this study, the authors introduce the innovative reconstruction technique of medium-sized defects consisting of tunnelized facial artery myomucosal island flap and submandibular gland flap as the local chimeric flap pedicled on facial vessels. A retrospective case series evaluation of 4 patients suffering from oral cavity cancer (stages III and IVa), who underwent transoral tumor excision with neck dissection and immediate reconstruction in the time period September 2020 to July 2021, was conducted. No flap losses or flap-related complications were identified. No recurrences occurred during the follow-up at 11.0±4.5 months (range: 6-16 mo, median=11 mo). Tunnelized facial artery myomucosal island flap and submandibular gland flap local chimeric flap expands the reconstruction options of medium-sized defects after ablative oral cancer surgery in carefully selected patients primarily not suitable for free flap reconstructions.

Cervical lymphocele: A rare complication following salvage surgery for ocular adnexal apocrine adenocarcinoma. A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: An ocular adnexal apocrine adenocarcinoma (OAAA) is an extremely rare, but potentially aggressive and life-threatening tumor with ill-defined management based only on recommendations from a limited number of reported cases. The development of cervical lymphocele following neck dissection is a very rare complication, but one with well established methods for prevention and treatment. Here we describe a previously unreported case of salvage surgery including neck dissection for OAAA in addition to an emergence of cervical lymphocele. A literature review of current knowledge on both pathological conditions is included. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 58-year-old man suffering from OAAA, previously treated with multiple eye-sparing excisions and adjuvant proton therapy, underwent salvage surgery for locoregional recurrence of the tumor. A partial orbitectomy with orbital exenteration, primary reconstruction and left-sided neck dissection was performed. The procedure was complicated by a cervical lymphocele resolved after the surgical therapy. The patient remained disease-free during the one-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: OAAA is a locally aggressive tumor with potential to local or distant metastatic spread. Whole-body staging, regular clinico-radiological follow-up and stage-dependent therapy with surgery as the first-choice treatment is required. A cervical lymphocele as a complication of especially left-sided neck dissection is managed with a conservative or surgical therapy according to the level of lymph leakage, extent and localization of lesions, presence of local or systemic disorders and the period from primary surgery.

Retromandibular Transparotid Approach for the Treatment of Benign Nontraumatic Conditions of the Mandible. A Retrospective Consecutive Case-Series Study.

ABSTRACT: The retromandibular transparotid approach enables the most direct access to the central and posterior part of the mandibular ramus including the condylar region. So far it has not been widely used for the management of benign pathology of the mandible. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utilization rate of this approach in the nontrauma setting including the determination of suitable indications for this access. In total, 105 patients with 107 retromandibular transparotid approaches performed in the 6.5 years (from May 2014 to November 2020) were evaluated. Patients suffering from nontrauma pathology accounted for 4.7% of all cases. The recurrences of different types of odontogenic cysts and secondary chronic osteomyelitis were surgically managed via this approach with aesthetically acceptable resultant scar achievement and no identified postoperative complications. All lesions resolved and no recurrences occurred during the follow-up 32.0 ±â€Š20.7 months (range 6 to 59 months, median = 26 months). The retromandibular transparotid approach may be considered for the enucleation of benign bone lesions in selected patients. Another type of surgery for the management of benign nontraumatic conditions in an accessible area without requirements for continuity resection and jaw reconstruction may be also suitable for using this approach.

Complete removal of dentigerous cysts with preservation of associated teeth as an alternative to marsupialization in children and preadolescents.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of dentigerous cysts enucleation with preservation of cyst-associated teeth as a single procedure in a group of children and preadolescents. A retrospective case series of seven patients with 15 unerupted developing teeth associated with or adjacent to dentigerous cysts was conducted. Patients were treated using the uniform surgical protocol (cystectomy, preservation of cyst-associated teeth, without use of orthodontic traction, primary wound closure). The metric analysis of the cysts and unerupted teeth on CBCT and an evaluation of the state of involved teeth after the treatment was performed. The mean age of patients was 9.0 ± 2.1 years (range 5-12 years, median = 9 years). All teeth erupted spontaneously. No serious postoperative complications or recurrences of lesions were detected. The mean follow-up was 53.1 ± 15.7 months (range 25-71 months, median = 52 months). The cystectomy of dentigerous cysts with preservation of associated teeth may be considered an alternative to marsupialization in children and preadolescents.

Modified maxillary vestibular approach with subperiostal intranasal dissection for surgical extractions of mesiodentes impacted in the floor of the nasal cavity.

INTRODUCTION: Impacted mesiodentes in the inverted position may interfere with the base of the nasal cavity or the nasal septum. They can rarely erupt into the nose as well. Traditionally they are extracted via intraoral approaches (transpalatal or vestibular). Also, an endoscopically assisted transnasal approach can be used. In this paper, the authors are the first to present a group of patients suffering from impacted mesiodentes who have been surgically treated using a modified maxillary vestibular approach with subperiostal intranasal dissection. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The prospective study was completed in the time period 12/2013-6/2017. The inclusion criteria were: 1. Mesiodens impacted in the inverted position extending to the base of the nasal cavity or into the nasal septum without concomitant pathological lesion and without eruption into the nasal cavity. 2. Localization of the mesiodens at the level of or dorsally to the roots of the upper middle incisors in the sagittal plane or ventrally to the roots of these teeth, but with the crown extending significantly posteriorly to the base of the nasal cavity.3. Indication for extraction because of clinical or orthodontic reasons. RESULTS: In total, 9 patients were enrolled into the group. In these patients, surgical extractions of 9 mesiodentes were performed using the alternative approach described above. All extractions were done according to a uniform surgical protocol. The mean age of the patients was 11.7 ± 3.1 years (age range 7-17 years). The crown's most cranial point exceeded the bone of the nasal cavity on average by2.0 ± 1.4 mm (in the range 0-5 mm). 8 mesiodentes were conical, 1 was tuberculate. Surgical procedure and postoperative healing were always without any complications. CONCLUSION: For the removal of midline supernumerary teeth, the modified maxillary vestibular approach with subperiostal intranasal dissection in comparison to the intraoral palatal approach provides less postoperative morbidity and a lower risk of complications (smaller surgical wound, minimal exposure of maxilla, minimal bone loss, reduced risk of damage to the roots of the upper incisors, lower risk of damage to the nasopalatine neurovascular bundle, good visibility in the surgical field, easier surgery, and finally no need of postoperative palatal splint). For oral and maxillofacial surgeons the presented technique represents a more traditional way of surgical tooth extraction than the endoscopically assisted transnasal approach.