The importance of routine magnetic resonance imaging in trigeminal neuralgia diagnosis.

The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of structural lesions diagnosed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a sample of patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and to compare history and clinical features between the groups with and without structural lesions. Clinical records and MRI findings of 42 consecutive patients diagnosed with TN at the National Dental Centre, Singapore, and who underwent routine MRI examinations at diagnostic workup between April 1997 and March 1999 were retrospectively studied. Of these, 6 (14.3%; 95% confidence interval, 0 to 28.8%) were diagnosed with an associated structural lesion. Mean age of the group with structural lesions was 53.3 years (standard deviation, 10.9 years) at presentation, there was female predominance (M:F = 1:2), and all (100.0%) gave a typical pain history and had unilateral involvement of a single division of the trigeminal nerve. Two patients (33.3%) had other cranial nerve abnormalities. Three patients (50.0%) had complete, 2 patients (33.3%) had partial, and 1 patient (16.7%) had poor response to medical therapy. None of these variables was statistically different from the group without structural lesions (cranial nerve abnormalities were not compared). In conclusion, the frequency of structural lesions associated with TN in our sample was relatively high. It is not possible to reliably identify high risk patients for selective MRI indication on the basis of history and clinical features. It may be prudent to consider routine MRI for all patients with TN to exclude structural lesions.

The pattern of maxillo-facial injuries in Singapore.

This is a study of 1,404 patients with maxillo-facial injuries treated at the Dental Clinic, Singapore General Hospital during the period January 1977 to December 1979. The significant features in the pattern of injuries in this group of patients are: 1. the commonest causes of maxillo-facial injuries are falls from height and automobile accidents. 2. the age group most affected is 0 to 39 years. 3. a high incidence in males (72.2%). The various modalities of treatment are also reviewed. Recent trends in the management of complex maxillo-facial fractures have significantly reduced the period of hospitalisation.

Clinical experience in temporomandibular joint arthroscopy.

Clinical experience of arthroscopy in 12 temporomandibular joints with a clinical diagnosis of closed lock was described. There were 10 patients and all were females with a mean age of 31.2 years (range 20 to 59 years). The antero-lateral approach was used for entry into 11 joints. The clinical findings were adhesions (64%), fibrillation (64%), anterior displacement of disc (36%) and scuffing of the articular surface of the glenoid fossa (9%). Two of the joints that had arthrocentesis prior to arthroscopy did not show any different findings from the rest. Of the 8 patients who had pre-arthroscopy pain, 7 patients (88%) had reduction of the symptom. Three patients (38%) had complete resolution of pain. The range of mouth opening (measured as maximal incisor opening) increased in all patients two weeks following arthroscopy. The average change in maximal incisor opening was 40.3% with a range of 22% to 85%. The mean follow-up was 34 months (range 4 to 68 months).

A cadaveric study of the potential damage in arthroscopic examination of the temporomandibular joints.

An arthroscopic study on 22 temporomandibular joints in 13 cadavers was undertaken. Dissections were carried out to correlate the arthroscopic with macroscopic findings in the joints. Iatrogenic damage to the temporomandibular joints and their surrounding tissues was also examined. Correlation between arthroscopy and macro findings was 91.0%. There was no damage to the facial nerve and superficial temporal vessels. Iatrogenic damage to the temporomandibular joint included scuffing of the articular surfaces of the glenoid fossa and articular eminence (31.8%), scuffing of the condylar articular surface (9%), one disc perforation (4.5%) and one perforation of the medial capsule (4.5%). Prevention of iatrogenic injuries is discussed.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma of the tongue: a case report.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma of the tongue is a rare malignancy. Until 1988, only 23 cases have been documented in the English literature. In this report, a 21 year old man with typical features of alveolar soft part sarcoma of the tongue is presented. Treatment was wide surgical resection with reconstruction using a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap.