Oral manifestation of paraneoplastic pemphigus

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is a rare and often fatal autoimmune blistering disease accompanied by both benign and malignant neoplasms. Usually, oral, skin, and mucosal lesions are the earliest manifestations shown by PNP patients. Oral ulcers are initial lesions in various autoimmune diseases like pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, erythema multiforme, graft-versus-host, lichen planus, it does not improved despite of high-dose steroid therapy. We report a-35-year-old female who presented oral ulceration, lip crust and skin lesions. By doing several examinations, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, incisional biopsy with indirect immunofluorescence, she was diagnosed PNP with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma on pancreas.ope

Vestibular Schwannoma Presenting with Orofacial Dysesthesia: A Case Report

Vestibular schwannoma, also known as acoustic neuroma, is a rare benign brainstem tumor surrounding the vestibular division of the 8th cranial nerve. The presenting symptoms are hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness. Unabated growth can compress 5th (trigeminal nerve) and 7th (facial nerve) cranial nerve, which can cause nerve dysfunction such as orofacial pain, sensory abnormalities, or trigeminal neuralgia. We report a 51-year-old woman who presented with orofacial dysesthesia on her left side of the face with abnormal findings on 5th cranial nerve and 8th (vestibulocochlear nerve) cranial nerve examination. Brain magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed cerebellopontine angle tumor. She was referred to a neurosurgeon and diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma.ope

The Use of Salivary Gland Scintigraphy for Diagnosis of Primary Sjögren Syndrome and Thyroid Disease in Patients with Dry Mouth

Sjögren syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by dryness of the mouth and eyes due to lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands. In American European Consensus Group (AECG) criteria, abnormal salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS) result is one of the objective signs of SS and it has been proposed as a valid and non-invasive alternative approach to functional evaluation of salivary gland, especially in the case when unstimulated whole salivary flow is more than 1.5 mL in 15 minutes or other AECG criteria is unmet. Patients with SS are more likely to have the thyroid disease (TD), but this association remains controversial. We present a case of the use of SGS for diagnosis of primary SS and TD in patients with dry mouth and burning sensation of tongue. Through this case, we suggest the usefulness of salivary scintigraphy for screening TD in addition to diagnosis of SS.ope

An Analysis of the Temporomandibular Joint Range of Motion and Related Factors in Children and Adolescents

This study was designed to establish safe guidelines for pediatric dental practice regarding temporomandibular joint (TMJ) range of motion (ROM) and mouth area (MA). A total of 438 children aged 3-15 years old of homogenous ethnicity participated in the study; the distribution of participants was approximately equal (sex; n = 15; age, n = 30). Maximum mouth opening (MMO), body height, weight, and age of each participant were recorded, and the TMJ ROM including anterior and lateral movements, MA, and mouth width were documented. Males showed higher mouth width, MMO, and MA values than females. MMO and MA increased with age, height, and weight in a statistically significant manner. MMO of 40 mm is reached by the age of 5.2 years, at a height of 105.9 cm and a weight of 18.6 kg. MMO showed a moderate correlation with age, height, weight, and mouth width, and MA moderately correlated with mouth width. Anterior and lateral movements did not show any close relation to these aforementioned factors. The findings of this study suggest that forcible mouth opening over 40 mm should be more cautiously considered, especially in children shorter than 105 cm, lighter than 18 kg and in children under 5 years old.ope

Morphological Changes in the Mandibular Condyle Following Botulinum Toxin Injection into the Human Masseter Muscle

Purpose: To determine the effects of botulinum toxin (BoNT) injection into the human masseter muscle on the morphology of the mandibular condyle bone using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: Twenty volunteers were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group I received a single BoNT injection; Group II received two injections, with the second being administered 4 months after the first. CBCT scans of both temporomandibular joints (TMJs) were performed before and 6 months after the first injection. Bony changes in the cortical layers of the condyle heads were evaluated and the long and short axes of both mandibular condyles were measured. The thickness at the thinnest part of glenoid fossa was also quantitatively measured. Results: There was no significant difference between pre- and post-injection CBCT images. Furthermore, no changes in the cortical layers of the condyle heads were observed among the subjects who exhibited mild degenerative TMJ changes. The quantitative measurements (long axis, short axis, and the thickness of thinnest part of glenoid fossa roof) did not differ significantly between pre- and post-injection except for the long axis in Group I. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it appears that BoNT injections into human masseter muscles do not alter the morphology of the mandibular condyle bone in healthy adults.ope

Combined Effects of Botulinum Toxin Injection and Oral Appliance Therapy on Lower Facial Contouring: A Randomized Controlled Trial

(1) Background: Botulinum toxin (BoNT) injection is an esthetically effective and safe treatment for contouring the lower face. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of BoNT and supplementary oral appliance (OA) therapy on lower facial contouring. (2) Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial from January 2015 to June 2016 at the Yonsei University Dental Hospital. Volunteers aged 20-45 years with masseter hypertrophy were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the non-OA group and the OA group. The non-OA group received BoNT injections alone, whereas the OA group received an OA in addition to BoNT injections. Changes in the bulkiest height of the lower face were evaluated by three-dimensional laser scanning before and 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks after injections in both groups. (3) Results: In both groups, the bulkiest height reductions decreased, with a significant interaction between group (p = 0.046) and time (p < 0.001), although the overall reduction was at a similar level at 24 weeks. (4) Conclusions: The pattern of the bulkiest height reduction of the lower face after BoNT injection differed between standalone treatment and OA therapy, implying a normalizing effect of OA on masseter muscle activity.ope

Myositis Associated with Infratemporal Space Abscess in Patient with Myxofibrosarcoma of Nasal Cavity: Case Report

The limited mouth opening, also known as trismus, can result from temporomandibular joint disorders, infection, neoplasm, trauma, and abnormal anatomic structure like coronoid hyperplasia. Head and neck cancer patients often complain of limited mouth opening, which is usually induced by myofibrotic contracture of masticatory muscle. But clinicians should consider any reasons such as infection or cancer growth and metastasis if trismus gets worse or pain develops. We report the case of the patient, who was diagnosed with myxofibrosarcoma on nasal cavity. He had suffered from trismus after concurrent chemoradiotherapy. However, pain had developed and trismus had worsened. He was diagnosed with infratemporal space abscess and myositis of masticatory muscles.ope

Obstructive Sialadenitis associated with Injectable Facial Fillers

Obstructive sialadenitis, one of the diseases that most frequently causes swelling and pain in the salivary glands, is mainly caused by structural obstructions. Sialolithiasis is the most frequent cause of the disease, and other causes include calculus formation, duct strictures, foreign bodies, and anatomical variations. Although there is a possibility that facial fillers directly block the salivary ducts, no cases of obstructive sialadenitis associated with them have been reported yet. We report the case of a 34-year-old female patient who complained of recurrent swelling and pain in the left buccal mucosa. She had undergone facial filler injection procedures on her facial area for cosmetic purposes several years before. Based on the findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR sialography, she was diagnosed with obstructive sialadenitis due to facial fillers. Through this case, we should remember to obtain a thorough history including filler treatments in the case of parotid gland swelling. We also suggest proper utilization of advanced imaging such as MRI in evaluating the location of facial fillers.ope

Clinical Characteristics and Relevance of Oral Candida Biofilm in Tongue Smears

Dimorphic Candida exist as commensal yeast carriages or infiltrate hyphae in the oral cavity. Here, we investigated the clinical relevance of Candida hyphae in non-pseudomembranous oral candidiasis (OC) by smears of tongue biofilms. We conducted a retrospective study of 2829 patients who had had tongue smears regardless of OC suspicion. Clinical characteristics were evaluated using a novel method of assessing hyphae. Clinical factors (moderate/severe stimulated pain, pain aggravated by stimulation, tongue dorsum appearance and initial topical antifungal use) were highly significant in the high-grade hyphae group but were statistically similar in the low-grade hyphae and non-observed hyphae group, suggesting low-grade hyphae infection as a subclinical OC state. In addition to erythematous candidiasis (EC), a new subtype named "morphologically normal symptomatic candidiasis" (MNSC) with specific pain patterns and normal tongue morphology was identified. MNSC had a significantly higher proportion of moderate and severe stimulated pain cases than EC. Low unstimulated salivary flow rate (<0.1 mL/min) was found to be a common risk factor in MNSC and EC. In non-pseudomembranous OC, pain patterns were dependent on Candida hyphae degree regardless of tongue dorsum morphology. Morphologic differences seen in high-grade hyphae infection were not associated with systemic diseases or nutritional deficiencies.ope

Maxillary Sinusitis Resembling Trigeminal Neuralgia

Chronic maxillary sinusitis is a common disease, with symptoms of dull, aching pain or pressure below the eyes and signs such as tenderness over the involved sinus, whereas trigeminal neuralgia is described as severe, paroxysmal, and lancinating brief pain limited in distributions of one or more divisions of trigeminal nerve. In cases where these two non-odontogenic toothache symptoms overlaps, the diagnostic process can be confusing. Here, we report a case of a 54-year-old male patient with chief complaints of intermittent, severe, and electric-like pain in the upper left premolar and first molar area, initially diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia but finally with maxillary sinusitis after pain recurrence 2 years after that. Therefore, thorough history taking and precise imaging interpretation should be considered to make correct diagnose especially in case of a patient with newly developed or altered or atypical symptoms.ope