A SEM evaluation of dentinal adaptation of root canal obturation with GuttaFlow and conventional obturating material.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this in-vitro study was to compare dentinal adaptation of conventional obturating material and GuttaFlow in young permanent teeth of child patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten young permanent anterior teeth with closed foramen were selected for the study. Root canal preparations were carried out using a step back technique. The canal was alternately irrigated with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution and 17% EDTA and normal saline. After root canal preparation specimens were randomly divided into two groups (n=5). GROUP "A": Obturated with zinc-oxide eugenol sealer and gutta-percha cone using cold lateral obturation technique. GROUP "B": Obturated with GuttaFlow as per the manufacturer's instruction. The teeth were split into two halves. Five randomly chosen longitudinal split teeth samples each from Group "A" and Group "B" was observed under scanning electron microscope to access the interface between obturating material and dentin at the level of 2 mm from the apex. RESULTS: On statistical analysis the dentinal adaptation (µm) of Group A was observed with a mean of 0.52 and standard deviation 0.15, while the value of mean and standard deviation were noted 0.12 and 0.02 for Group B. The "t" value on comparison of Group A and Group B is 5.79 with "P " value of <0.001, which is highly significant. CONCLUSION: From result of the study it can be concluded Group B samples showed significantly superior seal when compared with Group A. Complete seal was not observed in any of Group A samples.

Autoamputation of the tongue.

Autoamputation is an uncommon phenomenon that has been reported for the fingers, toes, appendix, ovary, spleen, etc. Autoamputation of the tongue has never been reported. An elderly man with carcinoma of lateral pharyngeal wall and tonsil presented with an autoamputated tongue that was attached to the oral cavity with a thin band. The patient required detachment of the tongue and tracheostomy followed by radiotherapy for the primary tumour.

Reproducibility of lymphoscintigraphy for lymphatic mapping in cutaneous melanoma.

UNLABELLED: One of the indications for lymphoscintigraphy in patients with melanoma is to determine the lymphatic drainage pattern and position of the first draining lymph node--the sentinel node. Metastasis in the sentinel node indicates the need for therapeutic lymph node dissection. The purpose of the present study was to examine the reproducibility of lymphoscintigraphy in assessing the location and number of sentinel nodes. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with clinically localized melanoma were investigated. The same investigator performed two scintigraphic studies with a 2-4 wk interval in each patient, in an identical manner. A 60-MBq dose of 99mTc-nanocolloid was injected intradermally at the primary tumor site. The lymph flow was studied dynamically, complemented by lateral/oblique views. The images were evaluated by a panel of three observers. RESULTS: The sentinel node was visualized within 20 min in all patients. A difference in number of sentinel nodes depicted on the first and second study was noted in three patients (12%). The melanoma was situated on the head (two patients) and arm (one patient) in these patients. Otherwise, the images were identical for number and location of nodes. CONCLUSIONS: Reproducibility of lymphoscintigraphy with 99mTc-nanocolloid was high in this study. However, some sentinel nodes may be missed in lymphoscintigraphy for melanoma.