Two Cases of Masticator Space Abscess Spreading from Infections of the Mandibular Teeth.

The masticator space is located between the masseteric fascia and the pterygoid muscle fascia. Here we report two cases of masticator space abscesses spreading from infections of mandibular teeth. Case 1 is an 85-year-old lady who were referred to Yokohama City University Hospital with a left-cheek swelling and trismus. An enhanced CT scan revealed an abscess extending from the left infratemporal fossa to the temporal fossa. A purulent discharge was observed from her left lower gingiva. We performed surgical drainage under general anesthesia. After infection control, the affected teeth were extracted. Case 2 is an 82-year-old lady who was administered oral bisphosphonate for osteoporosis. She presented to another hospital with fever, trismus and swelling anterior to the right ear after right lower tooth extraction. Because MRI revealed persistent osteomyelitis of her mandible even after antibiotic treatment, she was referred to us. Enhanced CT showed an abscess in the right infratemporal fossa. After surgical drainage similar to Case 1, antibiotics were administered for approximately 4 months to control the osteomyelitis.　 It is important to recognize that infections of the mandibular teeth can cause an abscess in the masticator space through the pterygomandibular and infratemporal spaces.

Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy with Docetaxel, Cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil (TPF) in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Several randomized trials have shown that concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) either with or without adjuvant chemotherapy is more effective than radiotherapy-alone for treating nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The present study retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of CCRT with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) chemotherapy in patients with NPC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study regimen consisted of two cycles of TPF chemotherapy [docetaxel (90 mg/m(2)), cisplatin (60 mg/m(2)), and continuous 5-fluorouracil (600 mg/m(2)/day: 5 days)] during definitive radiotherapy. Radiotherapy was performed 5 days a week with a single daily fraction of 1.8 or 2.0 Gy totalling to 70-Gy doses. A total of 24 patients with NPC were enrolled and evaluated. RESULTS: Treatment completion rate was 70.8%, with an overall response rate of 100%. The 5-year overall survival rate was 82.4%, and 5-year progression-free survival rate was 78.3%. CONCLUSION: CCRT with TPF resulted in excellent survival rates for patients with NPC.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

OBJECTIVE: Compared with radiotherapy alone, concurrent chemoradiotherapy significantly improves survival rates for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy, toxicity and long-term prognosis of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy. METHODS: A total of 140 patients were enrolled and evaluated. Patients were received two cycles of docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy (docetaxel [50 mg/m(2): Day 1], cisplatin [60 mg/m(2): Day 4] and continuous 5-fluorouracil [600 mg/m(2)/day: Days 1-5]) during definitive radiotherapy. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 97.1%. The 3 and 5-year overall survival rates were 83.3 and 79.2%, respectively. The 3 and 5-year disease-specific survival rates were 84.2 and 80.0%, respectively. Among patients with laryngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma, the 5-year laryngectomy-free survival rate was 64.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil showed excellent survival and organ preservation rates for the patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.