Orthodontic Management of the Edentulous Space Caused by Surgical Removal of a Large Dentigerous Cyst.

Herein, we report the orthodontic management of a patient with excessive bone and permanent tooth loss after surgical cyst removal. The patient was a 13-year-old Japanese boy who was referred to our department by an oral surgeon. He had an edentulous space with alveolar bone loss and loss of 2 permanent molars in the left mandibular region, following surgical removal of a large dentigerous cyst. We decided to close this space orthodontically. First, we moved the left mandibular second premolar into the edentulous region and autotransplanted the left maxillary lateral incisor in the adjacent distal space. We then performed comprehensive orthodontic treatment to establish stable occlusion. Following treatment, functional and stable occlusion of all permanent teeth was achieved without any spaces. The findings from this case suggest that orthodontic treatment is effective in growing patients with edentulous spaces and alveolar bone loss.

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia in the mandible: a case report.

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is histopathologically characterized by papillary proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. IPEH in the mandible is very rare, such that only four affected patients have been described in the English-language medical literature. Thus, there is a poor understanding of the pathogenesis and clinical features of IPEH in the mandible. This case report describes a patient with IPEH in the mandible who had a history of repeated trauma involving the mandible due to boxing-related and baseball-related injuries. Imaging examinations had diagnostic limitations, in that they showed a multilocular radiolucency suggestive of a simple bone cyst of the mandible, whereas intraoperative findings revealed a fluid-free unicystic cavity lined by a thin red membrane. Thus, histopathologic examinations were necessary for definitive diagnosis. The specimen demonstrated a spongy structure consisting of many small papillary fibrous tissues, lined by a typical monolayer endothelium that expressed CD34, but did not express D2-40 or AE1/AE3. Moreover, the Ki-67 labeling index was <1%. Thus, the lesion was identified as intraosseous IPEH in the mandible. Although the pathogenesis of IPEH has been controversial, our findings in this case suggest that pathogenesis of IPEH may be related to a history of trauma.

The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in the synovial fluid correlated with the severity of arthroscopically observed synovitis and clinical outcome after temporomandibular joint irrigation in patients with chronic closed lock.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) synovial fluid (SF) and the severity of arthroscopically observed synovitis before and after visually guided TMJ irrigation (VGIR) in patients with chronic closed lock (CCL). In addition, the findings were correlated with the clinical outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-four patients with unilateral CCL, who underwent a second VGIR either as a repeated therapeutic TMJ irrigation or as a follow-up arthroscopy, were enrolled in the study. They were divided into either successful (s-group; n = 11) and unsuccessful (u-group; n = 13) groups. The VEGF level in the aspirated SF and the severity of synovitis were compared between the s- and u-groups. In each group, the same parameters were compared before and after VGIR. The correlation of the VEGF level with the severity of synovitis was also studied. RESULTS: At the first VGIR, the VEGF levels showed no significant differences when comparing s- and u-groups. At the second VGIR, the VEGF level was significantly higher in the u-group. The VEGF level significantly decreased after the first VGIR in the s-group but remained unchanged in the u-group. There was no significant correlation between the VEGF level and the severity of synovitis. CONCLUSIONS: The level of VEGF in TMJ SF seems to reflect the clinical status in patients with CCL. Moreover, VEGF may be an important target molecule in future chemotherapy of TMJ CCL.

The changes of joint effusion on MRI and arthroscopic findings after visually guided TMJ irrigation correlated to the clinical outcome.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the changes of joint effusion (JE) on the MRI and arthroscopically observed pathology after visually guided TMJ irrigation (VGIR) in patients with chronic closed lock. The correlation of these findings to the clinical outcome was also studied. STUDY DESIGN: Forty patients with unilateral chronic closed lock who underwent 2-time VGIR, were divided into either the good outcome (g-) group (n = 29) or poor outcome (p-) group (n = 11) after the first VGIR. Before each VGIR, the each severity of JE, osteoarthritis, synovitis, and fibrous adhesion were assessed. They were compared between the g- and p-groups, or between the first and second VGIR. RESULTS: The severity of JE at the first VGIR was significantly worse in the p-group. In both groups, JE significantly improved after the first VGIR. In the g-group, synovitis significantly improved after the first VGIR, but fibrous adhesion significantly became worse. CONCLUSIONS: JE may be predictive for the clinical outcome of TMJ irrigation in chronic closed lock patients. Moreover, the severity of JE and arthroscopically observed synovitis could reflect the clinical state to some degree.