A new two‐dimensional sonographic approach to the assessment of the fetal hard and soft palates

Facial clefts are among the most common congenital defects. Ultrasound (US) imaging of secondary fetal palate, especially the detection of isolated defects, remains challenging. Currently described two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional methods are technically demanding and impractical for application during routine fetal anatomy evaluation. As an adjunct method, magnetic resonance imaging can provide additional information but has its limitations. We present a novel 2D US approach using axial and sagittal planes to evaluate the fetal palate and demonstrate the main differences between an intact palate, isolated cleft palate, and a cleft lip with cleft palate.     

Skeletal class II malocclusion caused by mouth breathing in a pediatric patient undergoing treatment by interceptive guidance of occlusion

A 7-year 10-month-old boy was evaluated for mouth breathing and snoring habits. Examination revealed soft convex tissues, maxillary protrusion, mandibular retrusion, and a class II sagittal osteofascial pattern. The patient failed a water holding test. He was clinically diagnosed with skeletal class II malocclusion caused by mouth breathing. Under interceptive guidance of occlusion (iGo), the malocclusion improved with fixed maxillary expansion using functional appliances and interventional treatment of mouth breathing by lip closure exercises. These treatments enabled the patient to gradually return to nasal breathing and guided him to develop physiological occlusion for a coordinated jaw-to-jaw relation. At the 5-year 2-month post-correction follow-up visit (at the age of 13 years), the patient had stable occlusion, a coordinated osteofascial pattern, and normal dentition, periodontium, and temporomandibular joints.     

Clinical,volumetric and densitometric evaluation of tissue engineered constructs for secondary alveolar cleft reconstruction: A randomized clinical trial

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of tissue engineered (TE) constructs compared to the standard autogenous anterior iliac crest (AIC) bone graft in secondary maxillary alveolar cleft reconstruction.This clinical trial was registered on (clinical trials.gov); the trial registry number is: NCT03563495. Patients with unilateral alveolar clefts were allocated on the basis of simple randomization. Selected patients were randomly divided into two equal groups: the AIC group (control) received autogenous particulate bone graft from anterior iliac crest, whereas the TE group received tissue engineered construct. Assessment included the newly formed bone volume and density at the grafted cleft sites, which were measured immediately, 6 and 12 months postoperatively on axial computed tomograms.The study population included 10 patients; each group comprised 5 patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups regarding the mean volume of the newly formed bone (p = 0.91 at 6 months, p = 0.994 at 1 year) and the mean density of the newly formed bone (p = 0.364 at 6 months, p = 0.073 at 1 year). However, there was a significant increase of TE graft density from 6 months to 1 year (p = 0.048).Within the limitations of the study it seems that the tissue engineered construct (collagen/osteogenically differentiated bone marrow−derived mesenchymal stem cells) might be an alternative to autogenous bone for unilateral secondary alveolar cleftgrafting.     

Undetected anomalies in foetuses with a prenatal diagnosis of isolated cleft

The aim of this study was to determine the rate of undetected additional anomalies following a prenatal diagnosis of isolated oral cleft. Data of all infants with a prenatal diagnosis of isolated oral cleft born between 2000 and 2015 were studied retrospectively. Additional anomalies detected after birth were categorized as minor or major and included structural and chromosomal anomalies. Isolated clefts of the lip (CL), lip and alveolus (CLA) and lip, alveolus, and palate (CLAP) were diagnosed prenatally in 176 live-born infants. The type of cleft was more extensive after birth in 34/176 (19.3%) and less extensive in 16/176 (9.1%) newborns. Additional anomalies were diagnosed in 24 infants (13.6%), of which 12 (6.8%) were categorized as major. The latter included two submicroscopic chromosome anomalies and two gene mutations. Postnatal additional anomalies occurred more frequently in CLA and CLAP than in CL, and more in bilateral than in unilateral clefts. Major anomalies are still found in infants with a prenatal diagnosis of an isolated oral cleft. The prevalence of additional anomalies seems to be related to the type and bilaterality of the cleft, and this should be considered during prenatal counselling.     

Influence of different techniques of secondary cleft lip revision surgery on upper lip projection

Patient dissatisfaction with labial appearance in the adult cleft lip is frequently linked to poor upper lip projection. Other areas of concern include asymmetry and impaired upper lip height. Different surgical techniques are available to address volumetric deficiencies, according to extent and localization. However, data comparing outcomes in these different areas are limited. The main aim of this study was to assess the relative gains in upper lip projection. An evaluation of upper vermilion height and symmetry was also performed. Thirty-seven consecutive patients treated by a single surgeon had their pre- and postoperative results measured using standardized photographs; these were analysed using subjective and objective outcome measures. Seven examiners evaluated anonymized pre- and postoperative side and front views for subjective evaluation. The objective analysis was performed using Adobe Photoshop. Fifteen lip revisions, four Abbe flaps, 12 dermal grafts, and six PermaLip implants were performed. In bilateral cleft lip and palate patients, Abbe flaps showed the most significant improvement in labial projection, followed by PermaLip implants and dermal grafts. In unilateral cleft lip and palate patients, PermaLip implants best addressed impaired lip projection, followed by dermal grafts. Overall, functional lip revisions showed excellent outcomes for upper lip symmetry; however, only minor changes in labial projection were found.     

双侧唇腭裂新生儿数字化模型与硬石膏模型的比较

目的： 比较双侧唇腭裂新生儿口内扫描数字化模型和硅橡胶制取灌注的超硬石膏模型的可靠性和稳定性。方法： 收集19例双侧唇腭裂新生儿病例,分别制取口内扫描数字化模型和硅橡胶取模超硬石膏灌注模型,对上颌牙槽骨长度、上颌牙槽骨宽度、腭裂宽度及上颌中线偏斜量等指标进行测量。采用SPSS 24.0软件包对测量结果进行统计学分析。结果： 2种方法上颌牙槽骨长度、上颌牙槽骨宽度、腭裂宽度及上颌中线偏斜量3次测量间均无统计学差异（P>0.05）,2种方法的测量值无统计学差异（P>0.05）。结论： 双侧唇腭裂新生儿口内扫描获取的数字化模型与硅橡胶取模超硬石膏灌注获取的石膏模型各测量项目之间无显著差异。口内数字化扫描操作过程简便,可以提高诊疗效率,新生儿承受痛苦少,风险小,可广泛用于唇腭裂患儿的研究、诊断分析及临床治疗。     

Incidence and survival trends of lip,intra-oral cavity and tongue base cancers in south-east England

Background

Oral cavity cancers are on the increase in the UK. Understanding site-specific epidemiological trends is important for cancer control measures.This study demonstrates the changing epidemiological trends in lip, intra-oral cavity and tongue base cancers in south-east England from 1987 to 2006.

Aim: Methods

This was a retrospective study using anonymised data obtained from the Thames Cancer Registry (TCR) London. Data were analysed using SPSS v.17 and survival analyses with Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression. Age standardisation of the incidence rates was performed. It was conducted in south-east England, which has an average population of 12 million. The study analysed 9,318 cases (ICD-10 code C00–C06, C14). Kent Research Ethics Committee UK granted ethical approval.

Results

Oral cancers were more common in men, with male: female ratio of 1.6:1. Tongue cancers had the highest frequency at 3,088 (33.1%).Incidence varied with each cancer type. Mean incidence (per 1,000,000) ranged from 2.3 (lip cancer) to 13.8 (tongue cancer). There has been a statistically significant increase in incidence for cancers of the tongue base, other parts of tongue, gum and palate (p<0.001).Median survival time varied by sub-site, with lip cancer having the best median survival time (11.09 years) compared with tongue base cancer (2.42 years). Survival analyses showed worse prognosis for men, older age at diagnosis, and presence of synchronous tumours (p<0.001).

Conclusion

There is a rising incidence of tongue and tongue base, gum and palate cancers in south-east England with wide variability in survival. Oral cancer awareness and screening programmes should be encouraged.     

Delayed presentation of a large congenital laryngeal cleft in an adult

Laryngeal clefts are rare congenital malformations of the posterior laryngotracheal wall that lead to an abnormal communication between the airway and pharyngo-oesophageal tract. The condition is almost universally identified during infancy with minor laryngeal clefts very rarely diagnosed in adulthood. We present our tertiary centre’s experience of a large laryngeal cleft presenting at an advanced age, with the aim of increasing awareness of this correctible cause of respiratory distress and aspiration in adults.