Thymic carcinoma which developed in a thymic cyst

The first human infection caused by Ascotricha chartarum of the maxillary sinus is described. The patient, a 35-year-old woman, developed a hard bony swelling on the right cheek. Her maxillary X-ray showed complete opacity of the right maxillary antrum with a shadow of erosion. C.T. scan revealed a radio opaque mass having vacuolated appearance in the antrum. The debris removed from the antrum contained phaeoid fungal elements. At places, softening of the bone was observed. The mucoperiosteum exhibited acute inflammatory reaction and invasion by the pathogen. The pale brown to subhyaline fungal elements in biopsy tissue grew Ascotricha chartarum, a phaeoid ascomycetous fungus in culture. The patient had a smooth recovery when treated with betadine lavage and itraconazole after surgical intervention.     

The placebo effect and clinical research in urology

A case of a large dentigerous cyst containing a canine tooth in the maxillary antrum is presented. This case is of interest due because of its extensiveness and the presence of a canine tooth in the roof of the maxillary sinus. In addition, this caused a right-sided epiphora. Enucleation of the cyst containing the ectopic tooth was made.     

Amyloidosis of the maxillary antrum

A rare case of primary amyloidosis which presented as a destructive lesion of the maxillary antrum is discussed. Current methods of diagnosis and treatment of amyloidosis are outlined.     

Polydactyly in a carrier of the gene for the Meckel syndrome

Localized scleroderma is distinct from the diffuse form of scleroderma and does not show Raynaud's phenomenon and visceral involvement. The imaging features in 23 patients ranging from 2 to 17 years of age (mean 11.1 years) were reviewed. Leg length discrepancy and muscle atrophy were the most common findings (five patients), with two patients also showing modelling deformity of the fibula. One patient with lower extremity involvement showed abnormal bone marrow signals on MR. Disabling joint contracture requiring orthopedic intervention was noted in one patient. In two patients with "en coup de sabre" facial deformity, CT and MR scans revealed intracranial calcifications and white matter abnormality in the ipsilateral frontal lobes, with one also showing migrational abnormality. In a third patient, CT revealed white matter abnormality in the ipsilateral parietal lobe. In one patient with progressive facial hemiatrophy, CT and MR scans showed the underlying hypoplastic left maxillary antrum and cheek. Imaging studies of areas of clinical concern revealed positive findings in half our patients.     

How to prevent the various neuralgic complaints after operation of maxillary sinus? (author's transl)

In order to avoid multiple neuralgic complaints after operations of maxillary sinus the following advice for cautions operative procedures is as follows: 1. A vertical incision in the mucosa of the fossa canine behind the eye-tooth instead of the usual horizontal section. 2. A small dorsolateral fenestration in a part of less nervous ramification in the facial bone layer of the antrum of High-more. 3. The limitation of resection of the mucous membrane in pathological areas of the sinus. 450 operations of the maxillary sinus were done in this way, which resulted in a lower rate of postoperative neuralgic complaints. Another advantage was the minimized intraoperative bleeding and the absence of postoperative swelling and haematoma formation of the cheek.     

The importance of panographic and dental evaluation for lesions of the antrum

A large dentigerous cyst which displaced the antrum and partly eroded its bony walls was interpreted as a malignant neoplasm in routine sinus films. The true nature of the process was readily apparent in a panographic view which showed an unerupted third molar lying horizontally above the apices of the first and second molars. This case is an excellent demonstration of the important role of panographic views in the differential diagnosis of maxillary sinus lesions.     

Melanoma-associated retinopathy

PURPOSE/METHODS: A 64-year-old man with a history of maxillary antrum melanoma had abrupt-onset night blindness and photopsia. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmologic examination and electroretinogram suggested melanoma-associated retinopathy. Serum produced a weak but specific labeling of human bipolar cells by indirect immunofluorescence. Complete excision of melanoma may have contributed to low levels of circulating autoantibodies. The identity of the retinal bipolar antigen recognized by melanoma-associated retinopathy autoantibodies is needed for more accurate diagnosis.     

Veterinary science on the border between 2 Five-Year Plans

The authors used the drainage method of treatment in 278 children with acute and 640 with chronic highmoritis, the children being from 15 to 14 years old. The use of teflon drainage introduced into Highmore's antrum by means of Kulikorvsky's needle, in the combined treatment of acute and chronic highmoritis, raises considerably the efficacy of the therapy and shortens the period of its application. The drainage method of treatment makes it possible to avoid surgical intervention on the maxillary sinus in the majority of chronic highmoritis cases.     

Carcinoma of the endometrium: do the nuclear grade and DNA ploidy provide more prognostic information than do the FIGO and WHO classifications?

Panoramic and computed tomographic images of 20 patients with antral malignancy were viewed separately and compared to determine the extent of bony destruction of the sinus walls seen in each film type. This study showed that panoramic radiographs can demonstrate antral malignancy at the time of diagnosis in 90% of cases. Panoramic radiographs possess the potential for identifying the need for further diagnostic procedures in evaluating the maxillary antrum. Health care workers should be aware of the value of panoramic radiographs in examining this region.     

Polyethylene ribbon and fixed orthodontic retention and porcelain veneers: solving an esthetic dilemma

The patient, a 58-year-old woman, had started orthodontic treatment to correct spacing between the maxillary anterior teeth 6 year prior to presentation with a chief complaint of tooth discoloration and spacing. The treatment had consisted of the use of a removable appliance to retract the maxillary anterior teeth. The patient continued to wear the appliance sporadically. When she presented, the maxillary incisors were in primary occlusal trauma with Grade 2 mobility. The patient discontinued wearing the appliance. The periodontal condition was addressed with initial therapy. As part of the treatment plan to stabilize the maxillary anterior teeth and provide the patient with an esthetic result, it was decided to do a limited occlusal adjustment of the maxillary anterior teeth to control fremitus, and to place a fixed, composite resin, polyethylene ribbon-reinforced splint, using a facial approach. The esthetic restoration of these teeth was accomplished with bonded porcelain veneers.     

Solitary maxillary central incisor in the midline associated with systemic disorders

A single maxillary central incisor in the midline is a rare developmental anomaly. The appearance of a single incisor in place of two teeth may occur as an isolated dental finding that can be related to fusion of two neighboring teeth or to agenesis of a tooth germ. However, the condition has also been reported to occur in association with autosomal dominant holoprosencephaly, growth retardation, and midline developmental defects. This article reports on other systemic defects that can be found in association with a single maxillary central incisor.     

Analysis of the results of combined therapy for maxillary carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Maxillary sinus carcinomas usually are locally advanced. A wide variety of modalities, including surgery, radiation therapy, and intraarterial chemotherapy, alone or in combination, have been used. However, there is still much controversy with regard to the optimum treatment. METHODS: From 1972 to 1986, 108 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus were treated at the Department of Radiology, University of Tokyo Hospital. From 1972 to 1974 (the first period), the treatment consisted of operation for reduction of tumor volume, daily cleaning of the maxillary antrum, 20 Gy of postoperative radiation therapy, and intraarterial infusion of 1500 mg of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and 3000 mg of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR). From 1975 to 1979 (the second period), the radiation dose was reduced to 10 Gy, and intraarterial infusion of 5-FU and BUdR was not performed. Surgery for reduction of tumor volume and daily cleaning of the antrum played a major role in this period. From 1980 to 1982 (the third period), daily cleaning of the antrum was not performed. Instead, the dose of radiation was increased to 50-60 Gy. From 1983 to 1986 (the fourth period), more extensive surgery to resect the tumor en bloc was introduced. The radiation dose was increased to 70 Gy. Intraarterial infusion of 3750 mg of 5-FU and 120 mg of cisplatin also was administered. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rate was 46% in the first period, 24% in the second period, 7.2% in the third period, and 53% in the fourth period. In the third period, there were more cases in which death resulted from a cause other than local failure, such as distant metastasis, pneumonia, or secondary primary cancer. Since 1984, we planned treatment with computed tomography (CT) and used the linear accelerator with a multileaf collimator to treat patients with an irregular field of irradiation. These have made it possible to administer radiation therapy in doses as high as 70 Gy without severe complications and improve the survival rate, especially for T4 disease. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation plays an important role in sterilizing malignant cells that cannot be removed by operation. The dose of radiation should be determined according to the volume of residual tumor. Careful treatment planning is required to irradiate the tumor adequately and reduce complications.     

Place of radiotherapy in therapy of nose and paranasal sinus neoplasms. Results in 63 patients

Therapeutic results in patients with cancer of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses of the own clinic are analysed together with some results published in literature. In early cases with cancer of the nasal cavity and cancer of the infrastructure of the maxillary antrum, the results of radiotherapeutic or surgical treatment are equal. In all the other cases -- the majority of the patients -- combined treatment with surgery and high-dose radiotherapy is superior to either treatment modality alone. The 5-year cure rates are: in early cases about 60% and in the other cases about 30%. The distribution of stages in our patients from 1963 to 1973 shows that the majoirty is in a more or less advanced stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis, comparable to earlier reports.     

Chronic rhinosinusitis in cystic fibrosis (mucoviscidosis)

The authors present two clinical studies performed in the ENT departments of two Belgian Universities. A total of 248 patients with mucoviscidosis (cystic fibrosis, CF) were assessed by means of nasal endoscopy. One hundred eighteen underwent computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses (CT) and 55 were endoscopically operated. This allowed the observation of different clinical patterns of rhinosinusitis: mucopyosinusitis (pseudomucocele) of the maxillary antrum with bulging of the lateral nasal wall (LNW), nasal polyposis with erosion of the LNW, and chronic purulent rhinosinusitis with an isolated prominent uncinate process. The treatment of those patients could be tailored to the individual clinical pattern. Medical therapy consisted of systemic antibiotics and topical drugs delivered by sprays or by lavages with a nose can. Surgery was mainly aimed at removing the massive polyposis when it interfered with the daily life activities. The use of the endoscope enabled to perform safely more extensive procedures resulting in a lower recurrence rate. In patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without polyposis, yet presenting ostiomeatal obstruction, a limited and more functional endoscopic surgery was indicated in order to restore some drainage and to improve the penetration of topical drugs into the affected sinus. A short addendum presents two studies: one about genetics and the other about prevalence of middle ear disease in CF. The first concluded that no clear correlation was found between DF508 (the most common CF mutation) and nasal polyposis. The second revealed that in contrast with the extremely high prevalence of sinus problems, there was no clear evidence of an increased prevalence of middle ear disease in CF.     

Helicobacter pylori does not migrate from the antrum to the corpus in response to omeprazole

BACKGROUND: Omeprazole is known to have an effect on Helicobacter pylori in vivo. One opinion is that H. pylori "migrates" from the antrum to the corpus in response to omeprazole therapy. METHODS: To determine whether H. pylori migrates in response to omeprazole, we assessed the presence of H. pylori in the antrum and corpus in duodenal ulcer patients receiving omeprazole for 4 wk. Culture and histological examination of antral biopsies (Genta stain) were performed before patients received omeprazole, at the end of therapy, and 4-6 wk later. The end points were presence or absence of H. pylori and the number of H. pylori colonies per biopsy. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients had H. pylori in both the antrum and corpus at entry and 4-6 wk after ending therapy. Three general patterns were prevalent at the end of omeprazole therapy: antrum- and corpus-positive (54%), antrum-negative and corpus-positive (24%), both antrum- and corpus-negative (21%), and one patient had antrum-positive with corpus-negative (1%). Evaluation of the number of colonies per biopsy in those who remained H. pylori-positive in both the antrum and corpus throughout showed that the number of H. pylori decreased in both the antrum and corpus during therapy (507 +/- 60 vs. 225 +/- 51, p < 0.01 and 415 +/- 58 vs. 290 +/- 46 0.1) for antrum and corpus, respectively, and tended to return to pre-therapy levels 4-6 wk later. The number of H. pylori in the corpus also decreased in the antrum-negative and corpus-positive group during therapy with omeprazole (433 +/- 87 vs. 185 +/- 61, p < 0.05). In most of the patients studied, the number of H. pylori in the corpus was less posttreatment than it was pretreatment. The decrease in H. pylori load was also reflected in the development of false-negative urea breath tests. CONCLUSIONS: Omeprazole is detrimental to H. pylori in both the antrum and the corpus; migration from the antrum to the corpus in response to omeprazole is a myth.     

Extensive maxillary odontogenic keratocyst: review of the literature and report of a case

Odontogenic keratocysts arising in the maxilla are relatively uncommon, small unilocular lesions that rarely involve the maxillary sinus. This paper reviews the clinical, radiologic and histologic features of an extensive maxillary odontogenic keratocyst involving the maxillary sinus, and the complications associated with its management. The authors emphasize the importance of regular patient follow-up examinations and imaging studies in order to detect and treat recurrent lesions when they are small and well-localized.     

Rigid external distraction: its application in cleft maxillary deformities

Patients with severe maxillary hypoplasia secondary to congenital facial clefting present numerous challenging problems for the reconstructive surgeon. Traditional surgical/orthodontic approaches for these patients often fall short of expectations, especially for achieving normal facial aesthetics and proportions. The purpose of this paper is to present our clinical experience and cephalometric results with the use of rigid external distraction for the treatment of patients with severe maxillary deficiency. Eighteen consecutive orofacial cleft patients with severe maxillary hypoplasia were treated with maxillary distraction osteogenesis. Criteria for patient selection included severe maxillary hypoplasia with negative overjet of 8 mm or greater, patients with normal mandibular morphology, and patients with full primary dentition or older. There were 10 unilateral cleft lip and palate patients, 6 bilateral cleft lip and palate patients, and 2 patients with severe congenital facial clefting. A maxillary splint was prepared for each patient, and all patients underwent a high Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy. All surgery was performed on either an outpatient or a 23-hour admission basis. No patient required blood transfusions or intermaxillary fixation. Two types of mechanical distraction were utilized in this series. In group 1 (n = 14), the patients underwent rigid external distraction with an external distraction device. In group 2 (n = 4), patients underwent face mask distraction with elastics. There was no surgical morbidity in any of the patients. For the patients in the rigid external distraction group, the mean effective horizontal advancement of the maxilla was 11.7 mm. All of these patients had correction of their negative overjet. For patients in the face mask distraction group, the results were disappointing. The mean effective advancement of the maxilla in this group was only 5.2 mm. In all face mask distraction patients, the initial maxillary hypoplasia was undercorrected. Maxillary distraction osteogenesis with rigid external distraction permits full correction of the midfacial deficiency, including both the skeletal and soft-tissue deficiencies. Rigid external distraction in patients with severe maxillary hypoplasia allows full correction of the deformity through treatment of the affected region only. It offers the distinct advantage of correcting these severe deformities through a minimal procedure. Rigid external distraction has dramatically improved our treatment results for patients with severe cleft maxillary hypoplasia.     

Toothache with a multifactorial etiology: a case report

A case report of orofacial pain originating from both dental and nondental conditions is presented. The spontaneous throbbing pain initiated from the left maxillary second premolar and spread throughout the entire upper part of the face to the frontoparietal area. Root canal treatment of the maxillary second premolar did not resolve the chief complaint. Magnetic resonance imaging examination revealed hypertrophy of the left inferior turbinate and soft tissue haziness in the left maxillary sinus floor. After antrostomy, submucosal turbinectomy, and endodontic treatment, the patient was free from pain. The final diagnosis of this case, in addition to pulpitis, was maxillary sinusitis with chronic rhinitis. The multiple factors associated with the etiology made the diagnosis difficult. The mechanism of referred pain from the maxillary sinus and paranasal mucosa to the maxillary teeth and face is discussed.     

Orally effective iron chelators for the treatment of iron overload disease: the case for a further look at pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone and its analogs

Taeniasis is very common all over the world and invades the upper small bowel in humans. It is very unusual to see this parasite in the stomach. We report a case of gastric taeniasis that led to granulomatous gastritis. The elimination of the parasite resulted in complete disappearance of the granulomas in the corpus and antrum and in complete recovery of the patient.     

A case of anastomotic aneurysm-enteric fistula

Reimplantation failure of avulsed anterior teeth in an adolescent patient requires removal of the attempted-reimplanted teeth and consideration of several restorative options. These options may include a removable partial denture, as well as a transitional bridge or permanent fixed prosthesis. In all cases, the potential effects of the adolescent's expected amount and directions of maxillary and mandibular growth must be considered. A case is presented examining how maxillary growth may affect the restorative treatment options for avulsed anterior teeth replacement for an adolescent boy. Unfortunately, the patient and family were unable to complete treatment due to financial considerations. Consequently, the case presented here is submitted as a treatment planning exercise.