Posterior Mandibular Area Research Articles

Periapical biopsy report: An analysis over a 10-year period

Biopsy reports of specimens from the apices of 1659 teeth physically present at the time the biopsy was performed were reviewed. The following information was recorded from each report: (a) source of specimen, (b) sex of patient, (c) age of patient, (d) location of tooth associated with lesion, and (e) diagnoses reported. Data were recorded and analyzed by chi-square analysis to note significant differences. This study found that 52% of the lesions were granulomas, 42% cysts, 2% periapical scars, and 4% other disorders. No differences were found between males and females in regard to age and location of lesions. Overall, the most common location for lesions was the maxillary anterior, followed by maxillary posterior, mandibular posterior, and finally the mandibular anterior jaw. This also was the case for all age ranges except 60 to 69 yr of age where lesions in the maxillary posterior area were most common. More granulomas were detected in all areas except in the mandibular posterior area where cysts were more common.

Radiographic characteristics of cystogenic ameloblastoma

Radiographic patterns encountered in mandibular cystogenic ameloblastoma, a variant encountered among teen-agers and young adults, are described and correlated with age and recurrence after surgery. More than 75% of the cases are located in the posterior mandibular ramus area, and 50% are associated with an impacted third molar. The predominant radiographic patterns include unilocular and scalloped or macromultilocular pericoronal, interradicular, or periapical expansile radiolucencies.

Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of minor salivary glands. A study of 14 cases of a distinctive neoplasm.

M. D. Anderson Hospital cases diagnosed as adenocarcinoma of minor salivary glands before 1977 were reviewed. Within this heterogeneous group of neoplasms there was identified one clinicopathologic tumor entity, which we have designated "polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma." The 14 tumors in that category were characterized by cytologic uniformity and histologic diversity; growth patterns varied (both within and among cases) from solid to tubular to papillary to cribriform (pseudoadenoid cystic) to fascicular, while the cells were always small to medium-sized, regular, and lacking in nuclear atypia. Mitotic figures were infrequent, and tumor necrosis was seen in only one instance (a recurrent neoplasm). Clear cytoplasm, oxyphilic and mucinous metaplasia, and intratubular calcification were sometimes present, and stromal mucinization and hyalinization were common. The tumors were always unencapsulated, and exhibited extension into surrounding tissues including bone. The 14 patients ranged in age from 27 to 76 years (median, 64 years). Eight were male and six were female; eight were white and six were black. The neoplasm was intraoral in all cases, involving the palate in 11, the buccal mucosa in two, and the posterior mandibular area in one. Local recurrence developed in one case, cervical lymph node metastasis in one, and both recurrence and cervical lymph node metastasis in two. The number of successive recurrences ranged up to three, and the interval to recurrence varied up to nine years (the interval to metastasis up to five years). Although radical surgical procedures were necessary for tumor control in some cases, no distant metastases occurred and all patients were clinically tumor-free at latest follow-up.

Surgical Exposure of the Facial Nerve

A complete knowledge of the anatomical relationships of the facial nerve is necessary for safe and effective surgery of the temporal bone, parotid gland, and other surgical problems in the upper neck and posterior mandibular area, as well as surgical exposure of the nerve itself. After the surgeon has positively identified the facial nerve he proceeds with safety and greater effectiveness in these anatomical areas. A very precise and constantly applicable procedure for promptly isolating the facial nerve is needed. Although this problem is an old one, surgical dissection in this area is still uncertain for many, and unfortunately at times the facial nerve is injured. The gravity of a facial nerve paralysis does not require any elaboration. I should like to describe briefly a surgical approach which consistently identifies the facial nerve. The reason this method is precise and constant is because it refers to constant anatomical landmarks. Repeated

Surgical exposure of the facial nerve.

A complete knowledge of the anatomical relationships of the facial nerve is necessary for safe and effective surgery of the temporal bone, parotid gland, and other surgical problems in the upper neck and posterior mandibular area, as well as surgical exposure of the nerve itself. After the surgeon has positively identified the facial nerve he proceeds with safety and greater effectiveness in these anatomical areas. A very precise and constantly applicable procedure for promptly isolating the facial nerve is needed. Although this problem is an old one, surgical dissection in this area is still uncertain for many, and unfortunately at times the facial nerve is injured. The gravity of a facial nerve paralysis does not require any elaboration. I should like to describe briefly a surgical approach which consistently identifies the facial nerve. The reason this method is precise and constant is because it refers to constant anatomical landmarks. Repeated