Importance of absorbable surgical sutures for the prevention of stitch abscess after surgery in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

To elucidate the significance of absorbable surgical sutures in the occurrence of stitch abscess after surgery in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The subjects were 251 patients who underwent excision and/or reconstruction and/or neck dissection for oral SCC using absorbable surgical sutures. Detection rates and characteristics of patients with stitch abscess were retrospectively evaluated by comparing between our present and previous data. There was only one stitch abscess among the 251 patients. A significant difference in the incidence of stitch abscess was found between the present data and our previous data. Of course, no significant correlations were found between the occurrence of stitch abscess using absorbable surgical sutures and the various factors seen in our previous analysis. A complete switch of surgical sutures from silk to absorbable surgical sutures is needed for surgery in patients with oral SCC

First Report of Sublingual Gland Ducts: Visualization by Dynamic MR Sialography and Its Clinical Application

This study was done to determine whether the sublingual gland ducts could be visualized and/or their function assessed by MR sialography and dynamic MR sialography and to elucidate the clinical significance of the visualization and/or evaluation of the function of sublingual gland ducts by clinical application of these techniques. In 20 adult volunteers, 19 elderly volunteers, and 7 patients with sublingual gland disease, morphological and functional evaluations were done by MR sialography and dynamic MR sialography. Next, four parameters, including the time-dependent changes (change ratio) in the maximum area of the detectable sublingual gland ducts in dynamic MR sialographic images and data were analyzed. Sublingual gland ducts could be accurately visualized in 16 adult volunteers, 12 elderly volunteers, and 5 patients. No significant differences in the four parameters in detectable duct areas of sublingual glands were found among the three groups. In one patient with a ranula, the lesion could be correctly diagnosed as a ranula by MR sialography because the mass was clearly derived from sublingual gland ducts. This is the first report of successful visualization of sublingual gland ducts. In addition, the present study suggests that MR sialography can be more useful in the diagnosis of patients with lesions of sublingual gland ducts

Significance and usefulness of imaging characteristics of gubernaculum tracts for the diagnosis of odontogenic tumors or cysts.

We aimed to determine the significance and usefulness of imaging characteristics of gubernaculum tracts (GT) for the diagnosis of odontogenic tumors or cysts. This was a retrospective analysis of relationships between odontogenic or non-odontogenic tumors or cysts and the GT that were visualized using multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). The relationship between the size of a mass and expansion of the GT in all odontogenic tumors or cysts to which GTs were contiguous on MDCT, was statistically analyzed. Intact or expanded GTs were detected in MDCT images on the top of almost all odontogenic tumors or cysts, but not on non-odontogenic tumors or cysts. Characteristic image findings regarding the relationship between the GT and the odontogenic mass were detected for the respective odontogenic tumors or cysts in which the GTs were contiguous to the mass on MDCT. In ameloblastomas, expansion of the GTs significantly and very strongly correlated with tumor size (r = 0.741, p = 0.0001), but this correlation was very weak in dentigerous cysts (r = 0.167, p = 0.028) and there was no correlation between these parameters in odontogenic keratocysts (r = -0.089, p = 0.557). The imaging characteristics of GTs at the top of masses should be very useful for both the differential diagnosis of the pathological diagnosis of odontogenic masses and for differentiation between odontogenic and non-odontogenic masses

Representative MDCT images of odontogenic masses and the GT (arrows) in cases classified as Group 1.

<p><b>(A)</b> Panoramic MDCT image of an AM case classified as Group 1. <b>(B)</b> Cross sectional MDCT image of Fig 2A. <b>(C)</b> Panoramic MDCT image of an OKC case classified as Group 1. <b>(D)</b> Cross sectional MDCT image of Fig 2C. <b>(E)</b> Panoramic MDCT image of a DC case classified as Group 1. <b>(F)</b> Cross sectional MDCT image of Fig 2E.</p

Continuity of each type of mass with the gubernaculum tract.

<p>Continuity of each type of mass with the gubernaculum tract.</p

Schemes and representative MDCT images of classification into 3 groups based on the presence or absence of continuity between the GT and the top of masses in alveolar bone.

<p><b>(A)</b> Scheme of Group 1, which was defined as cases in which an almost intact GT (asterisk) continues to the top of the mass (star). <b>(B)</b> An MDCT image of a mass classified as Group 1. (<b>C)</b> Scheme of Group 2, which was defined as cases in which an expanded GT (arrow) continues to the top of the mass (star). (<b>D)</b> An MDCT image of a mass classified as Group 2. (<b>E)</b> Scheme of Group 3, which was defined as cases in which the GT is not continuous with the tumor or cyst (star). <b>(F)</b> An MDCT image of a mass classified as Group 3.</p

Type and gender distribution of the 313 masses in this study.

<p>Type and gender distribution of the 313 masses in this study.</p

Relationship between mass size and area of the major axis of continuity on MDCT imaging in AM, DC and OKC cases classified as Group 1 or 2.

<p>In AM (blue diamonds), a strong significant correlation was found between the mass size and the size of the continuity area (r = 0.741, p = 0.0001). In DC (green triangles), a very weak significant correlation was found between the mass size and the size of the continuity area (r = 0.167, p = 0.0028). In OKC (red Xs), there was no correlation between the mass size and the size of the continuity area (r = -0.089, p = 0.557).</p

Representative MDCT images of the relationship between non-odontogenic masses and the GT in cases classified as Group 3.

<p>Bone defect areas at the top of the alveolar bone were not detected. <b>(A)</b> MDCT image of an ossifying fibroma case classified as Group 3. <b>(B)</b> MDCT image of a fibroma case classified as Group 3. <b>(C)</b> MDCT image of a nasopalatine duct cyst case classified as Group 3. <b>(D)</b> MDCT image of a simple bone cyst case classified as Group 3. <b>(E)</b> MDCT image of a schwannoma case classified as Group 3.</p

Odontogenic mass size distribution in the presence or absence of the continuity area.

<p>Odontogenic mass size distribution in the presence or absence of the continuity area.</p