Custom-Made Direct Metal Laser Sintering Titanium Subperiosteal Implants in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for Severe Bone-Deficient Patients-A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, a combination of classical subperiosteal implant designs with 3D imaging and printing allows one to reduce treatment time and provides support for fixed prostheses in cases where other techniques do not provide satisfactory results. This study aims to present a digital technique for the manufacturing of custom-made subperiosteal implants and what complications might appear after this type of surgery. METHODS: Sixteen patients treated with a custom-made DMLS titanium subperiosteal implant during the period between October 2021 and February 2022 were enrolled in the study. Orthopantomography (OPT) and cone-beam computer tomography (CBCT) were recorded for all patients. The measurements taken into account in this study were the fit and stability of implants, duration of surgery, implant survival, and early and late complications. RESULTS: The fit of the implants was extremely satisfactory, with a mean rating of 4 out of 5. The mean duration of the intervention was 86.18 min. At the end of the study, one implant was lost due to insufficient fit and recurrent, untreatable infections. Eleven implants (69%) were placed on the maxillary and five (31%) implants were placed on the mandible. CONCLUSIONS: Taking this into consideration, custom-made DMLS titanium subperiosteal implants could present satisfactory implant survival and low complication rates.

The Psychosocial Role of Body Image in the Quality of Life of Head and Neck Cancer Patients. What Does the Future Hold?-A Review of the Literature.

Background and Objectives: It is well known that among all cancers, cancers of the head and neck (HNC) have a major impact on patients' quality of life. Disfigurement, anxiety and disabling physical and psychological symptoms affect people with HNC to such an extent that the suicide rate in this category of patients is exceeded only by that of patients with pancreatic cancer. The aim of this review was to summarize the published literature describing the severity of body image and quality of life impairment in patients with HNC over time, and to examine the psychosocial and functional associations and interventions implemented to improve body image and quality of life. Materials and Methods: We conducted a literature search from 1 January 2018 to June 2021 that included electronic searches of six major databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, PsycINFO, PsychArticles and Scopus) and review of references of articles screened. Of 620 records, only 9 articles met the eligibility criteria. Results: Numerous studies have been conducted to analyze various psychological variables, but there is still a lack of standardization in the assessment of body image perception (BI) and quality of life, resulting in small-scale testing of interventions with poor results. Conclusions: Expected longitudinal studies describing the flow of body image problems and the mediation and balance factors associated with body image will allow researchers to design methods aimed at limiting body image disorders and thus improving quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer.

Clinical-pathological correlations in Warthin tumors of parotid gland: a series of 10 cases.

Warthin tumor is described using various terms, such as papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum, adenolymphoma or monomorphic adenoma. It is a medical condition related to the salivary glands, namely a benign cystic tumor which contains an epithelial component and an abundant lymphoid stroma. It is also named Warthin tumor after Aldred Scott Warthin, the pathologist who described this entity in 1929 by observing it in two patients. Warthin tumor is a benign one and ranks secondly in terms of the most common not malignant salivary gland tumor located in the parotid gland. Because of its cystic nature, from the clinical point of view, it appears to be a slow-growing tumor often fluctuant on palpation. In terms of the treatment of choice, complete excision with wide tumor-free margins is preferred. The aim of the present article is to evaluate possible correlations between clinical-pathological features and postoperative complications in a target group made up of 10 patients diagnosed with Warthin tumor of the parotid gland admitted for surgery in a period of 21 years and to compare the results with literature.