Accuracy of the measurements from multiplanar and sagittal reconstructions of CBCT.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of linear measurements performed in multiplanar reconstructions (MPR) and sagittal reconstructions (SR) of the left hemiface obtained from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) with 3D® Dolphin Imaging software by comparing them with the same measurements made on lateral cephalograms and on dry skulls. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: Lateral cephalograms and CBCT (with voxels of 0.25, 0.3 and 0.4 mm) were taken of 10 dry skulls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Linear distances were measured using the software's electronic rulers. Measurements performed on dry skulls using a digital caliper were considered the gold standard. The measurements were performed twice by two evaluators. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the measurements performed with the different imaging modalities and on the dry skulls. The highest mean error was observed in the lateral cephalograms, followed by MPR and SR. CONCLUSIONS: Cephalometric measurements performed on multiplanar and sagittal reconstructions from CBCT, with different spatial resolutions, are accurate when compared with the measurements obtained in lateral cephalograms.

Evaluation of Mandibular Bone Microstructure in CT Scans of People with Sickle Cell Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common inherited disease, and is characterized by a genetic modification that determines the production of a hemoglobin with altered morphology. This anatomical change of hemoglobin leads to vaso-occlusive disorders and premature hemolysis of the cell, causing chronic anemia and bone marrow hyperplasia due to increased hematopoietic demand. As a consequence, several skeletal changes are reported in the skull, spine, ribs, pelvis, femur, and metatarsals. In the craniofacial region, dentofacial deformities are described, especially maxillary protrusion. However, studies evaluating bone microarchitecture are scarce. The aim of this study is to evaluate the mandibular bone microstructure of people with SCD on computed tomography (CT) scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Morphometric parameters were analyzed on CT scans of the mandible of people with SCD and people without this disease or any other disease affecting bone metabolism, matched for sex and age. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The results were compared by Student's t-test for paired samples and for an error probability of 5%. RESULTS: This study demonstrated that the mandibular bone of people with SCD presents significantly less number, connectivity and thickness of bone trabeculae, as well as having a lower fractal dimension and greater porosity. CONCLUSION: Mandibular bone of people with SCD has lower bone density and more widely spaced trabeculae.

Assessment of landmark detection in cephalometric radiographs with different conditions of brightness and contrast using the an artificial intelligence software.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of an artificial intelligence (AI) software in identifying cephalometric points on lateral cephalometric radiographs considering four settings of brightness and contrast. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Brightness and contrast of 30 lateral cephalometric radiographs were adjusted into four different settings. Then, the control examiner (ECont), the calibrated examiner (ECal), and the CEFBOT AI software (AIs) each marked 19 cephalometric points on all radiographs. Reliability was assessed with a second analysis of the radiographs 15 days after the first one. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Reliability of landmark identification was excellent for the human examiners and the AIs regardless of the type of brightness and contrast setting (mean intraclass correlation coefficient >0.89). When ECont and ECal were compared for reproducibility, there were more cephalometric points with significant differences on the x-axis of the image with the highest contrast and the lowest brightness, namely N(p = 0.033), S(p = 0.030), Po(p < 0.001), and Pog'(p = 0.012). Between ECont and AIs, there were more cephalometric points with significant differences on the image with the highest contrast and the lowest brightness, namely N(p = 0.034), Or(p = 0.048), Po(p < 0.001), A(p = 0.042), Pog'(p = 0.004), Ll(p = 0.005), Ul(p < 0.001), and Sn(p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: While the reliability of the AIs for cephalometric landmark identification was rated as excellent, low brightness and high contrast seemed to affect its reproducibility. The experienced human examiner, on the other hand, did not show such faulty reproducibility; therefore, the AIs used in this study is an excellent auxiliary tool for cephalometric analysis, but still depends on human supervision to be clinically reliable.

Clinical and Laboratory Profile of People Living with HIV/AIDS with Oral Kaposi Sarcoma.

The aim of this article was to evaluate the clinical and laboratory profile of people with oral Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) associated with AIDS (KS-AIDS), followed-up at a public university hospital in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, in the past 10 years. We identified patients diagnosed with KS-AIDS, presenting oral manifestation from January 2007 to December 2017. We searched, in the hospital information systems, the patient demographics, diagnostic data, treatment, image studies, and oral photographic records. Of the 39 cases of KS-AIDS identified at the institution, 14 (22.8%) presented oral lesions. There was a predominance of black men, with a mean age of 32.5 years. Most cases (85.1%) manifested signs of KS simultaneously with the diagnosis of HIV infection, with extremely low initial CD4 T cell counts (average of 52.6 cells/mm2) and visceral involvement (64.3%). The palate (32.1%) and gingiva (21.4%) were the most affected oral sites. Histologically, the tumors exhibited proliferation of spindle cells between vascular clefts and extravasated erythrocytes. Oral KS-AIDS was frequent in young black adult men, with severe immunosuppression and high viral load counting, mostly with lesions manifested in the same period of diagnosis of infection by the HIV.

Linear measurement accuracy of CBCT panoramic reconstructions: experimental study with dry human mandibles.

INTRODUCTION: Studies on software accuracy of reformatted panoramic computed tomography (CT) images are scarce. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the software accuracy of reformatted panoramic views from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: Ten dry mandibles were scanned using CBCT with different voxel sizes. Following the reconstruction of panoramic views with three different software, horizontal and vertical linear measurements were performed using the electronic rules of each software. Measurements of the corresponding dry mandibles were taken with a digital caliper and defined as the gold standard. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in linear distances among the dry mandibles and reformatted panoramic CT views. The relative error ranged from 1.3 to 8.0%, depending on the software and voxel size. CONCLUSIONS: The linear measurements on reformatted panoramic views are reliable.

Orofacial manifestations of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis: a case series from Brazil.

The dental surgeon plays a fundamental role in the early diagnosis of oral leishmaniasis, since oral mucosa may be the primary site of the disease manifestation. This study reports seven clinical cases of orofacial mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. All had mucocutaneous leishmaniasis with oropharyngeal involvement confirmed by laboratory tests. Five out of the seven cases were males, and in four cases, patients had associated comorbidities. Late diagnosis was observed, resulting in treatment delay and increased hospitalization stay. One patient had severe psychological consequences due to facial deformity. The lack of differential diagnosis due the great variability of clinical presentation of the lesions and frequent unspecific histopathology represent a challenge for the dental surgeon. In two reported cases, there were unspecific biopsy results. The multidisciplinary approach plays an important role in orofacial leishmaniasis diagnosis and treatment. Leishmaniasis should be investigated in case of atypical and persistent lesions in patients from endemic regions. This recommendation may avoid diagnosis delays and decrease dissemination of the disease.

Unusual oral findings of the toxic epidermal necrolysis in an HIV-infected patient: a case report.

Erythema multiforme (EM), Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) have been reported as possible adverse effects of some classes of first-line antiretroviral drugs (ART) for HIV treatment. Herein we report an unusual presentation of TEN lesions associated with ART in an HIV-infected patient. The patient presented disseminated cutaneous eruption and oral lesions from the lips to the oropharynx region, causing odynophagia and dysphagia. In the tongue, circular, atypical erythematous lesions appeared, increasing in diameter over seven days and coalescing since then to complete remission. TEN treatment included efavirenz interruption, use of methylprednisolone, prophylactic antibiotic, and daily laser therapy with low-intensity red light. The circular oral lesions have not been described yet. Reporting our findings and clinical management may help diagnosing other similar cases and guide the clinical conduct. Analgesia and acceleration of oral ulcer repair with red laser therapy are recommended.

Peripheral T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma manifesting as a primary lesion on the lip: A rare case report.

Primary manifestations of extraganglion non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) from T-cells in the oral cavity are rare and often difficult to diagnose. Herein, we describe a case of T-cell NHL with a primary lesion on the lip diagnosed with a 25-year-old woman. The patient reported the appearance of the initial lesion on the upper lip, which advanced to the hard palate and oral mucosa. Histological examination and immunohistochemistry were compatible with peripheral T-cell NHL without further specifications. The proposed treatment consisted of six cycles of multiagent chemotherapy. The patient died from complications of the disease before the third cycle of chemotherapy. Understanding the clinical signs of lymphoma is important for the early diagnosis of this disease to avoid aggressive and potentially fatal behavior.

Efficacy of imidazolquinoline on treatment of condyloma acuminatum of the buccal mucosa.

The condylomata acuminata is a benign epithelial neoplasm induced by papillomavirus, and it is characterized by the proliferation of stratified squamous epithelial tissue that affects the anogenital and oral mucosa. It is considered to be a sexually transmitted disease and has a higher prevalence in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Various therapies have been used for the removal of lesions, such as cryotherapy, surgical laser and surgical excision, which are painful and scarring. These techniques, however, do not eliminate the virus and relapses are common shortly after treatment. The use of immunomodulators has been proposed to be an alternative treatment, as imidazolquinoline has been shown to be effective in the treatment of lesions in the anogenital region. However, its use in the oral cavity has been the subject of few reports in the literature. Thus, the objective of this study is to describe a case of warts in the labial mucosa of an HIV positive patient using imidazolquinoline 5%.

Spontaneous involution of a unilateral mandibular buccal bifurcation cyst

Introduction: The mandibular buccal bifurcation cyst is a rare inflammatory odontogenic cyst that typically develops at the buccal region of the first or second permanent mandibular molars of children aged 6 to 15 years. The tooth involved is vital and shows an increased probing depth on the buccal surface. Radiographically, it is characterized by a unilocular radiolucent area, well circumscribed on the buccal osseous cortical, that it is difficult to visualize on periapical radiography. The diagnosis is primarily clinical and radiographic, and the treatment is usually the cystic enucleation without extraction of the tooth. Objective: To report a case of spontaneous involution of a unilateral mandibular buccal bifurcation cyst. Case presentation: This report describes the clinical and radiographic characteristics of an unusual case of unilateral buccal bifurcation cyst in a 6-year-old patient, presenting as a slight expansion in the buccal region of the first permanent mandibular molar. The treatment of choice was the clinical and radiographic follow-up due to the spontaneous involution of the cyst. There were no recurrences during follow-up and the tooth remained vital and erupted normally. Conclusions: The possibility of spontaneous involution is a characteristic that must always be observed, in order to avoid unnecessary surgical procedures.(AU)

Introducción: El quiste de bifurcación bucal mandibular es un quiste odontogénico inflamatorio poco frecuente que, en general, se desarrolla en la región bucal de primeros y segundos molares mandibulares permanentes en niños de 6-15 años. El diente involucrado es vital y muestra una mayor profundidad de sondeo en la superficie bucal. Radiográficamente, se caracteriza por un área radiolúcida unilocular, bien circunscrita en la cortical ósea bucal, que es difícil de visualizar en la radiografía periapical. El diagnóstico es principalmente clínico y radiográfico y el tratamiento suele ser la enucleación quística sin extracción del diente. Objetivo: Informar un caso de involución espontánea de un quiste de bifurcación vestibular mandibular unilateral. Presentación del caso: Caso inusual de quiste de bifurcación bucal unilateral en un paciente de 6 años, que se presenta como una ligera expansión de la región vestibular del primer molar mandibular permanente. El tratamiento de elección fue el seguimiento clínico y radiográfico debido a la involución espontánea del quiste. No hubo recurrencias durante el seguimiento y el diente permaneció vital y brotó normalmente. Conclusiones: La posibilidad de involución espontánea es una característica que siempre se debe observar para evitar procedimientos quirúrgicos innecesarios(AU)

Conventional and digital radiographic assessment of tooth enamel de-/remineralization processes: an experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare digital techniques for evaluating dental enamel de-/remineralization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty extracted molars were subjected to a process of de- and remineralization. Radiographs were taken before and after each stage. These radiographs were evaluated by the conventional method and were then scanned and analyzed either with or without the use of image enhancement. Moreover, the gray levels (GLs) of the affected areas were measured. RESULTS: All methods exhibited low sensitivity and identical levels of specificity (99.4%). Analysis of the grayscale levels found statistically significant differences between the initial radiographs (P < 0.05). The mean GL of the carious group was significantly lower than that of the remineralized group. The GL did not differ significantly between the initial and final radiographs of the remineralized group, although the mean of the first group was lower than that of the second, which demonstrated that the remineralization process restored the normal density of the dental enamel. CONCLUSION: Measurement of the mean GL was sufficiently sensitive to detect small alterations in the surface of the enamel.