Jaw in a Day: Immediate Dental Rehabilitation during Fibula Reconstruction of the Mandible.

Reconstructing mandibular defects presents challenges to dental rehabilitation related to altered bone and soft tissue anatomy. Dental implants are the most reliable method to restore the lost dentition. Immediate dental implants have been placed for many years but with unacceptably low rates of dental/prosthetic success. Current virtual technology allows placement of both fibulas and guided implants in restoratively driven positions that also allow immediate dental rehabilitation. Inexpensive three-dimensional printing platforms can create provisional dental prostheses placed at the time of surgery. This article reviews our digital and surgical workflow to create an immediate dental prosthesis to predictably restore the dentition during major jaw reconstruction with fibula free flaps.

Sinonasal Renal Cell-Like Adenocarcinoma.

Sinonasal renal cell-like adenocarcinoma (SNRCLA) is a newly defined, rare malignant tumor of the nasal cavity. The clinical course and response to treatment remain uncertain. The purpose of this study is to report a new case of SNRCLA and review the literature to determine clinical characteristics, treatment options, and outcomes. A 26-year-old male presented with headache, epistaxis, and nasal obstruction. Physical examination revealed a tumor involving bilateral ethmoid sinuses and MRI revealed extension through the cribriform plate. Surgical excision with endonasal and a bifrontal craniotomy was performed followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). After RT, the patient had persistent disease requiring salvage surgery. There are few previously reported cases of SNRCLA. A literature review yielded 14 previously reported cases with convincing diagnostic evidence of SNRCLA. Common presenting symptoms were epistaxis and nasal obstruction. Surgical excision was the primary treatment in fourteen cases, nine received RT, and none received chemotherapy. However, three cases had persistent or recurrent disease. Surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment for SNRCLA and adjuvant RT has been used in some patients with varying outcomes. The tumor is low grade with no reported cases of metastases or death. The best practice for treatment is yet to be determined.

Not Your Typical Tonsil: Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma or Primary Disease?

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive neuroendocrine tumor that almost always presents as a cutaneous lesion in the sun-exposed areas on the bodies of elderly white males. Metastasis to lymph nodes in the presence or absence of a known primary site and occurrence of these tumors in non-sun-exposed sites have also been described; however, an incidence of recurrent disease arising in the palatine tonsil in the absence of any detectable primary lesion has never been reported in the literature. In this report, we discuss a case of a 72-year-old female who was found to have a single axillary lymph node, which was resected and proved to be positive forMCC of unknown primary (MCCUP). Since there was no evidence of additional disease, the patient elected not to pursue adjuvant therapies. Six and a half months later, she presented with a complaint of dysphagia and a right-sided exophytic tonsillar mass. Tonsillectomy revealed MCC with no detectable primary cutaneous lesion. She received adjuvant therapy with avelumab and demonstrated a complete response after one year of bi-weekly treatments. Seven months following cessation of adjuvant treatments, surveillance positron emission tomography (PET) revealed enlarged retroperitoneal, pretracheal, periaortic, and left axillary lymph nodes concerning for recurrence. She elected to forgo additional biopsies and restarted avelumab the following month. She continues to be followed up on a monthly basis.

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Ex Pleomorphic Adenoma: Case Report and Comprehensive Literature Review.

Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA) is an epithelial malignancy that transforms from benign pleomorphic adenomas (PA) at a rate of 1.5% after 5 years and 10% after 15 years. The average age of reported nasopharyngeal CXPA is 56.7 years. However, the present case describes a 19-year-old making this case exceptionally rare. Standard treatment is wide local excision with adjuvant treatment. We report the demographics, presentation, treatment, and outcomes of 8 cases of nasopharyngeal CXPA. While surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment, negative margins can be difficult to obtain at the skull base, and we report a recurrence rate of 50% in nasopharyngeal primaries. Due to the aggressive nature of the disease and high rate of recurrence, the majority of patients in our review received adjuvant radiation with some receiving adjuvant chemotherapy in addition.

Proposed ultrasound algorithm to differentiate thyroglossal duct and dermoid cysts.

OBJECTIVE: 1) To assess reproducibility of the previously established SIST score. 2) To determine inter-observer agreement in using ultrasound (US) characteristics to differentiate thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) from dermoid cysts (DC) 3) Improve the method used to pre-operatively differentiate TGDC from DC. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Tertiary care pediatric hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An electronic medical record was queried to identify children with midline neck masses who underwent pre-operative neck US and had a histopathologic diagnosis of either TGDC or DC. Two pediatric radiologists, blinded to the pathologic diagnosis, evaluated the US images and documented the presence of pre-determined characteristics of each mass. Potential differentiating factors were analyzed for their predictive power. The SIST (septations, irregular walls, solid components = TGDC) score was determined as well as inter-observer agreement. Using the characteristics that had significant predictive power, we used the data to develop an algorithm to improve predicting cyst type. RESULTS: Pathologically, there were 47 TGDC and 25 DC. The inter-observer agreement about the pathologic diagnosis between the two radiologists was substantial, K = 0.66. Overall, the SIST score predicted the correct diagnosis 67% of the time. Radiologist 1 and radiologist 2 were more accurate than the SIST score alone, making the correct diagnosis 96% and 86% of the time, respectively. In our study, we found that the most important US characteristics in differentiating TGDC and DC are: internal Septations, depth relative to Strap muscles, Shape and Solid parts (4 S algorithm). The SIST score criteria were individually shown to be significant and sensitive in recognizing DC, however, they were not specific and often misclassified TGDC as DC. We developed a new sequential filtering algorithm that more accurately differentiates cysts. This new algorithm uses step-wise filtering of characteristics, first for Septations, then for depth to Straps, then Shape of the cyst and lastly Solid parts (4 S algorithm). This algorithm correctly categorized cyst type in 100% of patients in our study. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-operatively differentiating TGDC and DC continues to be a challenge. Using our 4 S algorithm, we can more definitively differentiate TGDC from DC compared to the SIST score. All SIST score characteristics were significant and sensitive in detecting dermoid cysts, however, not very specific. The radiologists' judgment and accuracy was better than the SIST score. The 4 S algorithm uses sequential filtering of important characteristics: Septations, depth to Straps, Shape of cyst and lastly Solid parts to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Gaps in Training: Misunderstandings of Airway Management in Medical Students and Internal Medicine Residents.

OBJECTIVES: (1) Evaluate baseline airway knowledge of medical students (MSs) and internal medicine (IM) residents. (2) Improve MS and IM resident understanding of airway anatomy, general tracheostomy and laryngectomy care, and management of airway emergencies. METHODS: A before-and-after survey study was carried out over a single academic year. MS and IM resident knowledge was evaluated before and after an educational, grand rounds-style lecture reviewing airway anatomy, tracheostomy tube components, tracheostomy and laryngectomy care, and clinical vignettes. The primary outcome measure was change in pre- and postlecture survey scores. RESULTS: Prelecture surveys were completed by 90 participants, and 83 completed a postlecture assessment. Postlecture scores were statistically improved for all questions on the assessment (P < .001). Level of training did not confer an improved pre- or postlecture survey score. DISCUSSION: While the majority of participants in our study had previously cared for patients with a tracheostomy or laryngectomy, less than half were able to correctly address basic airway emergencies. Senior IM residents were no more proficient than MSs in addressing airway emergencies. The lack of formal airway training places patients at risk with routine care and in emergencies, demonstrating the need for formal airway education for early medical trainees. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Our data demonstrate a serious gap in MS and IM resident knowledge with respect to emergent airway care in patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies. An interdepartmental collaborative curriculum offers a realistic and potentially life-saving solution for medical trainees.