Absent maxillary lateral incisor as evidence of poor midfacial growth in unilateral cleft lip and palate.

OBJECTIVE: The absence of a maxillary permanent lateral incisor in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) may affect the dental arch relationship. An analysis is performed to investigate the relationship between the maxillary-mandibular dental relationship and the status of the maxillary permanent lateral incisor. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with non-syndromic UCLP were analysed using the GOSLON Yardstick to assess maxillary-mandibular dental relationship on pre-expansion orthodontic study models. Absence of the permanent upper lateral incisor on the cleft side was assessed from medical records and dental radiographs. RESULTS: A total of 83 subjects were identified: 54 males and 29 females, with 54 having a missing lateral incisor on the cleft side. There was a significant relationship between the GOSLON Yardstick score and the absence of the maxillary permanent lateral incisor on the cleft side (p<0.05). Of those in GOSLON categories 4 and 5, 78% had a missing lateral incisor compared to 42.3% in GOSLON 1 and 2. CONCLUSIONS: Missing lateral incisor may be an indicator of severity of dental arch discrepancy.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma in the neck: an unusual presentation.

UNLABELLED: Metastasis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to the head and neck region is infrequent. A rare case of metastatic RCC, presenting as an enlarging neck mass and radiologically mimicking a carotid body tumour clinically and radiographically, presented in a 68-year-old male patient, 18 months after radical nephrectomy for RCC. It is estimated that 14-16% of all patients with renal cell carcinomas have metastases above the clavicle. However, there are no reported cases of metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the neck mimicking a carotid body tumour. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Renal cell carcinoma is the third most common neoplasm to metastasize to the head and neck region following breast and lung carcinomas.

Removal of miniplates in maxillofacial surgery: a follow-up study.

PURPOSE: We sought to follow-up a cohort of patients who had miniplates (plates) inserted in the oral and maxillofacial region during a 13-month period over 4 years to study the incidence and factors associated with plate removal. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred fifty-three patients had plates inserted in the oral and maxillofacial region in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Birmingham, UK, between November 1, 1998, and November 30, 1999. All 153 patients' records were revisited on or after October 31, 2002, giving a minimum follow-up of 3 years and a maximum of 4 years. RESULTS: During a period of 13 months (November 1, 1998 through November 30, 1999), 308 plates were inserted into 153 patients. A total of 32 plates were removed from 21 patients by October 31, 2002, (10.4%) over 4 years; 27 plates were removed from 16 patients for purely plate-related symptoms, with infection being the most common cause accounting for 16 plates (50%) in 9 patients. Symptoms necessitating plate removal occurred within 52 weeks after insertion in 16 patients, accounting for 23 of the plates removed (72%). The age of the patient at plate insertion may have some influence on plate removal but this was not significant. Seniority of the operator did not affect plate removal. CONCLUSION: Our experience with the removal of miniplates compares with previously published reports. Longitudinal follow-up at 4 years indicates that plate-related problems leading to removal are likely to occur in the first year after insertion.