Faculty Bibliography

Studies of adult patients with unoperated complete unilateral cleft lip and palate indicate that there is normal potential for maxillary growth. The maxilla in the unoperated patient is normally positioned or protruded. The protrusion of maxilla in the unoperated adult cleft patient is limited to the non-cleft side, contributing to hemifacial maxillary prognathism. Surgical scar tissue is known to interfere with the growth of the midface. Palatal surgery has more significant influence on the growth of the mid-face than the lip surgery; therefore, it is important to reduce the effect of surgery by delaying the timing of palatal surgery or changing the location of the surgical scar from the sutural areas. Delaying palatal surgery until the maxillary growth is complete is desirable but could lead to poor speech development. Therefore, it is essential to perform the palatal surgery before speech development. The other variables that affect the midface are the development genetic make-up of the cleft child, the amount of tissue deficiency, timing of surgery, surgical technique, and the skill of the surgeon. Surgeries continue to have some inhibitory effect on maxillary growth, but it is essential to recognize and perform those surgical procedures that have the least effect on growth of the maxilla. This will help minimize extensive orthodontic treatment and eliminate major secondary orthognathic surgery for correction of the abnormal growth of the maxilla

In this study we have developed and tested a novel pain questionnaire to measure the pain experienced by patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. The questionnaire consisted of 8 questions rated by the patient on a visual analog scale. Patients completed the questionnaire at the time of initial presentation before surgical treatment. None of the patients were taking analgesics. The responses were then scored and compiled with patient data and pathology reports. Of the 15 completed questionnaires, 14 patients reported some level of functional restriction from pain (mean, 46.6 +/- 25.2, scale of 0 to 100 mm). On average, patients experienced significantly higher function-related, rather than spontaneous, pain intensity and sharpness. Men (n = 8) had a significantly higher level of function-related pain intensity and sharpness than women had (n = 7). There was a strong correlation between nodal disease and increased levels of spontaneous intensity, sharpness, throbbing, and overall functional restriction. PERSPECTIVE: The results of this study indicate the heterogeneous nature and function dependence of oral cancer pain. The questionnaire we have developed in this study will allow for correlations between pain parameters and specific tumor biology in future studies

PURPOSE: Although an important risk factor for oral cancer is the presence of epithelial dysplasia, many lesions will not progress to malignancy. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent proteinases capable of digesting various structural components of the extracellular matrix. Because MMPs are frequently overexpressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), we hypothesized that they are also overexpressed in oral dysplasias; we also hypothesized that those dysplasias that progress to oral cancer express higher levels of MMPs than those lesions that do not progress. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In this retrospective study, we examined changes in MMP-1, -2, and -9 mRNA expression using quantitative TaqMan reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 34 routinely processed oral dysplasias and 15 SCCs obtained from 34 patients. After several years of close follow-up, 19 dysplasias progressed to oral SCC and 15 did not. RESULTS: Overall, MMP-1 mRNA was overexpressed (>2-fold) in 24 of 34 (71%) dysplasias and 13 of 15 (87%) oral SCCs. MMP-2 overexpression was seen in 11 of 34 (32%) dysplasias and 7 of 15 (47%) cancers; for MMP-9, overexpression was identified in 29 of 34 (85%) dysplasias and 15 of 15 (100%) cancers. MMP-1 and -9 levels were significantly higher in the SCCs compared with all oral dysplasias (P = 0.004 and P = 0.01, respectively). MMP-1 and -9 mRNA levels were significantly higher in the oral dysplasias that progressed to oral cancer compared with those that did not (P = 0.04 and P = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Levels of MMP-1 and -9 mRNA may be markers of malignant transformation of oral dysplasia to oral cancer

PURPOSE: The study goal was to evaluate neurosensory changes after liquid nitrogen cryotherapy in the management of mandibular lesions in close proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The design of the study was a retrospective review. Sixteen patients with posterior mandibular lesions (15 odontogenic keratocysts and 1 fibromyxoma) in close proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve were treated with a standardized enucleation and cryotherapy technique. Postoperative evaluation included patients report of symptoms and formal neurosensory testing. RESULTS: All patients had altered sensation in the distribution of the inferior alveolar nerve immediately after cryotherapy. Two patients experienced anesthesia, and the remaining 14 patients showed paresthesia. The average time for return or improvement in sensation was 91 days (range, 6 to 235 days). The average time of follow-up was 2.6 years (range, 0.5 to 7.3 years). At the time of last follow-up, no patients had anesthesia or dysesthesia. Four patients had full return of sensation and 12 patients had paresthesia. No patients reported significant difficulty from abnormal nerve function. All 16 patients experienced some return of sensation; 9 patients had full or near full return of sensation. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, the combination of enucleation and liquid nitrogen cryotherapy produces minimal alteration of inferior alveolar nerve function

PURPOSE: The association between tobacco smoking and oral squamous cell carcinoma is well established. However, few studies have evaluated the smoking history based on a smoking versus never-smoking history or analyzed the relationship between smoking history and site and stage of presentation. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between smoking versus never-smoking history and the stage and site of presentation of oral squamous cell carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The design of this study was a retrospective review of all patients presented at the Legacy Emanuel Hospital Head and Neck Tumor Board in Portland, Oregon, with a biopsy-proven oral squamous cell carcinoma between 1998 and 2000. Data collected included age, gender, smoking history (smoker versus never smoker), pack-years of tobacco, site, and stage (T, N, and group stage) at presentation. RESULTS: A total of 67 patients were reviewed; 33% of patients were never smokers and 67% of patients had a history of smoking with an average of 49.4 pack-years. The floor of mouth and gingiva were the most commonly affected sites. There was a statistically significant difference between site of presentation and a history of smoking (P =.0007). The 2 sites that showed a significant association with smoking were posterolateral tongue and floor of mouth. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study demonstrate that approximately one third of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma will report that they have never smoked. There was a strong association between a history of smoking and carcinoma involving the posterolateral tongue and floor of mouth

PURPOSE: Maxillary reconstruction after maxillectomy remains a great challenge for the reconstructive oral and maxillofacial surgeon. This article is a clinical retrospective analysis of patients reconstructed with zygomaticus implants after maxillary ablation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The design of the study was a retrospective review of 9 patients requiring near-total or total maxillectomy for pathologic reasons. Clinical records, photographs, and radiographs were studied. Financial billing statements were reviewed to determine charges for implant reconstruction and method of payment. RESULTS: Maxillary reconstruction using zygomaticus and standard endosseous implants was performed in 9 patients. Maxillary resection was performed for the following reasons: salivary gland malignancy (n = 2), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 5), maxillary mucormycosis (n = 1), and extensive maxillary atrophy and infection secondary to subperiosteal maxillary implant placement (n = 1). A total of 28 zygomaticus implants and 10 standard endosseous implants were used to reconstruct the 9 patients. Six zygomaticus implants and 3 standard endosseous implants failed. The time of zygomaticus implant placement ranged from placement at the time of resection to 3.2 years after the resection. Five patients received radiation therapy. Five patients have been reconstructed with a maxillary obturator and have been functioning with the prosthesis for a minimum of 2 years. CONCLUSION: The combination of zygomaticus and standard endosseous implants can be used to reliably reconstruct patients after extensive resection of the maxilla

Patients with lagophthalmos are often treated with a stock gold weight that has been implanted in the upper eyelid. This relatively simple surgical technique does not, however, always produce the desired result. This article describes a technique for the fabrication of a custom eyelid implant prosthesis for patients who present with a non-functioning and unaesthetic eyelid implant

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Fabrication of a proper surgical guide is critical for success of implant restorations. The effects of the dimensional factors of the surgical guide on implant placement have not been studied. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of varied dimensions (diameter, length, and distance between the underside of the surgical guide and the implant recipient site) of a surgical guide on the accuracy of implant angulation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this in vitro study, 240 implant recipient sites were randomly prepared using varied dimensions of a surgical guide. The varied dimensions of the surgical guide's channel and distance were: channel diameter (2, 3, 4, or 5 mm), channel length (6 or 9 mm), and distance between the underside of the surgical guide and the simulated implant recipient site (2 or 4 mm). From these varying dimensions and distances, 16 combinations of dimensions and distances were tested. For each combination, 15 simulated implant recipient site (SIRS) specimens were prepared. The deviated angulation (DA) from the midpoint of the top surface of the 1- x 1-inch simulated implant recipient site (each simulated implant recipient acrylic block contained 5 SIRS of 1 x 1 inch), in the right-to-left (DA(RL)) and front-to-back (DA(FB)) directions, were measured in degrees using a protractor. The data was analyzed using factorial analysis of variance and Tukey's HSD test (alpha=.05). RESULTS: The DA(RL) , in degrees, at a channel length of 9.0 mm (2.33 +/- 1.27) was significantly smaller than at a channel length of 6.0 mm (3.0 +/- 1.42, P =.0001). The DA(RL) , in degrees, at a distance of 4.0 mm (2.13 +/- 1.16) was significantly smaller than at a distance of 2.0 mm (3.16 +/- 1.39, P =.0001). Also, a significant interaction for DA(RL) was found between diameter and distance ( P <.05). For DA(FB) , the varying diameters ( P <.05), lengths ( P =.0001), and distances ( P =.0001) showed significant differences. The DA(FB) at a channel length of 9.0 mm (2.56 degrees +/- 1.51) was significantly smaller than that at 6.0 mm (3.82 degrees +/- 1.87). Significant interactions found for DA(FB) were: diameter by length ( P =.0001), diameter by distance (F=4.547, P =.004), and length by distance (F=11.512, P =.001). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest channel length as the primary controlling factor in minimizing deviated angulations