The Efficiency of a Learning Software Compared to e-Books in Dental Education.

OBJECTIVES: Due to time-consuming curricular and extracurricular activities, students in dentistry and medicine can profit from efficient learning strategies. One strategy could be the preparation with individually designed educational software that embed different multimedia sources. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of such a program compared with an e-book similar to a traditional textbook. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dentistry students of the Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz passed an entrance multiple-choice test on the topic of odontogenic tumors and were then randomized into two groups. Afterward, both groups had 14 days to study on the topic of odontogenic tumors either with a learning software or an e-book. A final exam was then taken and the two groups were compared. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: A least significant difference post hoc analysis comparing the group average values was performed. The level of significance was p <0.05. RESULTS: Seventy-one students took part in the study. While students from the first and second clinical semester showed significantly better results and improvements with the e-book, an opposite effect was observed in students from the third and fifth clinical semester with significantly better results and improvements with the software. CONCLUSION: Depending on the clinical experience and knowledge, a multimedia educational software can help students in dentistry to enhance efficiency in the preparation for exams.

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas Developing from Oral Lichen Planus: A 5-21 year Retrospective Study.

Background and Aims: There is insufficient data regarding clinical characteristics, relapse rates, as well as lymph node metastasis of squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity (OSCC) developing from oral lichen planus (OLP-OSCC). The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate clinical characteristics, as well as relapse, recurrence and survival rates of OLP-OSCC. Methods: In a retrospective monocenter analysis, all consecutive patients with an OSCC treated in the time period 1st January 2000-December 31 2016 were reviewed. All patients with OSCC developing from OLP/OLL (oral lichenoid lesions) were identified and analyzed for epidemiological data, risk profile, location of primary tumor, pTNM classification, lymph node metastasis, primary therapy, recurrence, and outcome. Results: A total of 103 patients (45%♂/ 55%♀) with an average age of 62 ± 14 year were included in this study. At the time of initial diagnosis, 17% (n = 18) of patients had cervical metastases (CM) whereas only 11% (11 patients) displayed advanced tumor sizes (T > 2). T-status (p = 0.003) and histopathological grading (p = 0.001) had an impact on the incidence of CM. 39.6% of the patients developed a relapse after an average of 24 months with a mean of two recurrences per patient. Advanced tumor size had a significant impact on the 5 year overall survival and was associated with disease-free survival of the patients (p < 0.001, respectively p = 0.004). Conclusion: Although initial lymph node metastases were not more frequent, more aggressive recurrence patterns compared to OSCC were seen for OLP-OSCC. Therefore, based on the study results, a modified recall for these patients is suggested.

The role of diabetes mellitus on the formation of severe odontogenic abscesses-a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the correlation of diabetes mellitus and hyperglycemia with severe odontogenic abscesses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of all patients in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University who underwent inpatient treatment for severe odontogenic abscesses between 2010 and 2016 were evaluated retrospectively regarding diabetes anamnesis, maximum and fasting blood sugar count, and duration until discharge. In order to compare the numbers to a general maxillofacial group, all patients who received inpatient treatment in 2013 for any diagnosis other than an abscess of the head and neck region were analyzed as well, and the numbers were correlated. RESULTS: In total, 977 abscess patients were found in the analyzed period. 7.0% of the patients had a known diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II and 0.6% of type I. Correlation with the general group showed that abscesses were significantly more likely in diabetics as well as patients with abnormal maximum and fasting blood sugar counts. These patients also needed significantly longer inpatient treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetics and patients with abnormal glucose tolerance show significantly higher numbers of severe odontogenic abscesses and might therefore benefit from earlier escalation of antibiotic medication. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Severe odontogenic abscesses are one of the most frequent diagnoses in maxillofacial practice. Adjusting the therapeutic approach for diabetics or patients with abnormal blood sugar counts might help to prevent the development of abscesses.

Factors accelerating recurrences and secondary tumors in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

To investigate factors that affect and also decrease the duration for recurrences and secondary tumors in cSCC. A retrospective study was conducted for all patients who were treated for a cSCC of the head and neck between 2009 and 2016. Anamnestic as well as epidemiological and histological data were noted and correlated with the occurrence of recurrences and secondary cancers. The duration between surgery and these events was used to determine if histological factors accelerate their occurrence. The highest risk for recurrences was seen in patients with previous skin cancers (RR 3.23). Histological ulceration (p = 0.003) and grading (p = 0.031) of the tumor were found as significant factors accelerating the time to relapse. Surrounding chronic precancerotic lesions (p < 0.001) and poor tumor grading (p = 0.035) were found as significant factors accelerating the time until a secondary cSCC was observed. Known risk factors increase not only the risk for a cSCC but also for recurrences. Specific histologic findings can help to adjust follow-up intervals to identify recurrences and secondary tumors at an early stage as these were shown to decrease the duration for a further event.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in malignant melanoma of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with head and neck melanoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent SLNB between 2010 and 2016 were comprised. Epidemiological, radiological, and surgical data were collected and compared to histological findings. Patients who underwent primary complete lymph node dissection were excluded. RESULTS: 74 patients underwent SLNB during this period. The most common tumor localizations were the cheek (20.4%) and ears (20.4%). Overall, 256 sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) were detected and removed, most frequently in Robbins-levels IIA and IIB as well as in the surrounding of the parotid gland. 12.3% of the SLN showed a microscopic or macroscopic metastasis. In preoperative imaging all lymph nodes with macroscopic metastasis were described as suspect but only 4 of 11 lymph nodes with microscopic metastases were described as such. CONCLUSIONS: SLNB is an especially good procedure for the diagnosis of microscopically metastases as disease status is an important diagnostic and prognostic factor in early-stage melanoma patients. However, due to the complex lymphatic system in head and neck melanoma, a short follow-up interval is necessary in order to prevent delayed diagnosis of a nodal recurrence due to a false-negative SLN.

Outcome and cervical metastatic spread of squamous cell cancer of the buccal mucosa, a retrospective analysis of the past 25 years.

OBJECTIVES: Because of the low proportion of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the buccal mucosa within the carcinomas of the oral cavity in the Western population, data concerning metastatic pattern are sparse. Therefore, this retrospective study is focusing on the occurrence of cervical metastases (CM) and the overall outcome of this tumor entity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1988 to October 2013, 113 patients were treated in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Mainz, for an oral SCC of the cheek. Metastatic pattern and clinical parameters that are possibly associated with an increased risk for CM as well as overall outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: The average follow-up was 48 months (range: 1-248 months). A total of 55 (49%) patients were female and 58 (51%) male, with an average age of 65 ± 13 years (♀68 ± 14 years; ♂63 ± 11 years). In total, 55% of the patients either smoked and/or consumed alcohol. In total, 34% of the patients had a stage III or IV tumor, with overall 23% having CM at the time of diagnosis. During the follow-up, 50% (n = 56) of the patients developed a relapse after 12 months (median). Tumor size (P = 0.002*) and grading (P < 0.001*) are significantly associated with the occurrence of CM. Metastases (P = 0.008*) and advanced tumor size (P = 0.018) had an influence on the survival, whereas the relapse had no significant influence (P = 0.928). Five-year survival rate was 80%. CONCLUSIONS: SCC of the buccal mucosa shows aggressive behavior with a considerably high proportion of relapse. Since overall outcome is significantly decreased by the cervical metastatic pattern, a selective, ipsilateral neck dissection for this patient group is recommended as the primary management.

Cervical metastases behavior of T1-2 squamous cell cancer of the oral mucosa.

OBJECTIVES: The clinical management of the neck of patients with early-stage oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC) is still controversially discussed in the current literature. This study analyzes histo-clinical factors influencing the occurrence of cervical lymph node metastases (CM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective mono-center study, patients with a primary T1-2 OSCC between 2000 and 2014 were analyzed regarding histo-clinical parameters possibly influencing the CM rate and the outcome. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-five patients (66 %) were male and 146 female (44 %), with a mean age of 60 ± 12 years at the time of diagnosis. Seventy-seven percent showed a positive risk profile (nicotine/alcohol) and 69 % underlying diseases. Forty-four percent of the patients were staged as T2 (30 % with CM). Advanced tumor size (T1 vs. T2) and grading (G1-2 vs. G3) were statistically significantly (p < 0.001) associated with the occurrence of CM. The localization within the oral cavity, age, gender, risk profile, or underlying diseases had no influence on CM occurrence. During the follow-up, tumor size (p = 0.001), CM (p < 0.001), and tumor relapse (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with a worse outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Early-stage OSCC showed aggressive lymphatic metastatic behavior that depends on the size and the grading of the tumor. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A watch-and-wait policy as the primary management for cN0 may likely be inferior to a selective neck dissection for this patient group and should only be considered for very small tumors with a good differentiation.

Malignant lymphomas in the head and neck region--a retrospective, single-center study over 41 years.

OBJECTIVES: Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are malignant neoplastic proliferations of the immune system that can manifest as nodal or extranodal lymphomas. The aim of this study was to retrospectively investigate the site of occurrence of lymphomas in the head and neck area and to analyze the typical symptoms of patients who presented at an oral and maxillofacial surgical department. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patient files from 1971 until 2012 from an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of a University were analyzed for the diagnosis non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Epidemiologic data and data regarding the localization of the malignant lymphoma were evaluated. RESULTS: 62 patients, 34 women and 28 men with a non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the head and neck area were treated in the 41 years analyzed. In 87% of the cases the lymphoma belonged to B-cell and in 12% to the T-cell lineage. The average age at the time of diagnosis was 67 years for women (n=34) and 56 years for men. With 22 patients each, the non-Hodgkin lymphoma was localized in either the soft tissues or osseous structures. In the remaining 18 cases, multiple structures were affected. In 33 patients no accompanying nodal manifestation was noticed. In 33 cases the lymphoma was located in the oral cavity. The most common symptoms were swelling (97%), pain (40%) and the existence of an ulcer (11%). CONCLUSION: In the present study more than 50% of the lymphomas were located in the oral cavity. Due to the unspecific symptoms, a histopathological verification of the diagnosis is crucial.