Healing of maxillary sinusitis of odontogenic origin following conservative endodontic retreatment: case reports.

Because of the anatomical proximity, infection of posterior upper teeth can spread into the maxillary sinus. When confronted with a large persistent periapical lesion on a posterior maxillary root-treated tooth, the practitioner should question the quality of the previous endodontic treatment, evaluate the impact of the potential causes of failure and consider, in the majority of cases, the conservative non-surgical retreatment instead of extraction or periapical surgery of the dental element. This paper reports two cases of healing of extensive periapical bone destruction and of the co-existing sinus pathology of odontogenic origin after non-surgical endodontic retreatment of previously root-treated upper molars. Misconceptions concerning the role of epithelium in the periapical lesion are discussed. Also, emphasis is put on the need of precise radiological diagnosis, pre-operatively as well as post-operatively to ascertain healing and to avoid unnecessary delay in the appropriate management of these patients.

[Pre-implantation evaluation using medical imagery: scanner or Scanora?]. / Mise au point pré-implantaire en imagerie médicale: scanner ou Scanora?

A pre-implant investigation by way of medical imaging techniques may be effected by means of traditional X-ray clichés. However, a proper appreciation of the bone volume and the relations between the different bone structures is only possible by means of a three-dimensional evaluation. As a matter of fact, "sectional" pictures can be made by means of the "Scanner", but also by means of the "Scanora". The following article gives a detailed description of the "Scanora" technique and compares it with the "Dentascan" technique.

A case of familial visceral myopathy with atrophy and fibrosis of the longitudinal muscle layer of the entire small bowel.

The case of a 21-yr-old man, who died in cachexia after 2 yr of intermittent abdominal pain, bouts of diarrhea, and anorexia, is reported. Laboratory tests performed shortly before death disclosed signs of malabsorption. Radiologic examination of the gastrointestinal tract showed a coarse mucosal relief in the upper jejunum and a tubular aspect in the rest of the small bowel. There was no dilatation of the loops. Autopsy revealed severe to complete atrophy with fibrosis of the outer muscle layer of the entire small bowel, extending from the pylorus to the ileocecal valve. The only other lesion discovered was a moderate portoportal fibrosis of the liver. The patient's brother had died a few months earlier after 2.5 yr of similar symptoms. An upper gastrointestinal series had shown dilatation of the stomach with fluid retention and a tubular aspect of the small bowel with generalized widening of the loops. No autopsy was performed. There was a high degree of consanguinity on the mother's side. Family history revealed no other evidence of possible genetic factors in the disease.