Sérgio Lúcio Pereira de Castro Lopes

Lateral pterygoid muscle volume and migraine in patients with temporomandibular disorders

Purpose Lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM) plays an important role in jaw movement and has been implicated in Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Migraine has been described as a common symptom in patients with TMDs and may be related to muscle hyperactivity. This study aimed to compare LPM volume in individuals with and without migraine, using segmentation of the LPM in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the TMJ. Materials and Methods Twenty patients with migraine and 20 volunteers without migraine underwent a clinical examination of the TMJ, according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMDs. MR imaging was performed and the LPM was segmented using the ITK-SNAP 1.4.1 software, which calculates the volume of each segmented structure in voxels per cubic millimeter. The chi-squared test and the Fishers exact test were used to relate the TMD variables obtained from the MR images and clinical examinations to the presence of migraine. Logistic binary regression was used to determine the importance of each factor for predicting the presence of a migraine headache. Results Patients with TMDs and migraine tended to have hypertrophy of the LPM (58.7%). In addition, abnormal mandibular movements (61.2%) and disc displacement (70.0%) were found to be the most common signs in patients with TMDs and migraine. Conclusion In patients with TMDs and simultaneous migraine, the LPM tends to be hypertrophic. LPM segmentation on MR imaging may be an alternative method to study this muscle in such patients because the hypertrophic LPM is not always palpable.

Age assessment based on dental calcification in individuals with Down syndrome

It is important to estimate both chronological age (CA) and maturational age of an individual, in order to perform orthopedic treatment or surgery, and in cases of lost documentation. Use of dental age (DA) for these purposes has been widely studied; however, the literature is scarce with regard to individuals with Down syndrome (DS), a prevalent condition worldwide. In this study the chronology of dental maturation was evaluated by analyzing the DA of individuals with DS based on the Chronological Mineralization Table proposed by Nolla (1960). Thus, second molars were evaluated in 57 panoramic radiographs of male and female individuals with DS, between 5 and 16 years-old. These data were compared with a control group of 191 nonsyndromic individuals of the same age group. Correlation between CA and DA was ascertained using Pearsons correlation coefficient (r), and the difference between these variables was measured using Students t-test for paired samples and the method proposed by Bland and Altman. The difference between DA and CA was compared between the control and DS groups using Students t-test for independent samples (α=0.05). DA was slightly lower than the CA; however, this difference was only significant for females. The difference between DA and CA was not significant between individuals with DS and control group (both genders, p=0.945; males, p=0.542; females, p=0.381). We concluded that dental maturation in individuals with DS occurs similarly to that of nonsyndromic individuals.

Aggressive unicystic ameloblastoma affecting the posterior mandible: late diagnosis during orthodontic treatment

Maxillofacial images must be examined to find pathologies not identified during clinical examination. Unicystic ameloblastoma (UA) extending to the mandibular body and ramus was neglected on initial panoramic radiographic examination. After orthodontic therapy, a huge lesion was observed clinically and through imaging exams. After the conservative surgery, no recurrence was observed during five years of follow-up. This case emphasized the need for careful evaluation of patient images focusing on the oral diagnosis before any dental treatment planning, including orthodontic therapy.

Location and classification of Canalis sinuosus for cone beam computed tomography: avoiding misdiagnosis

The aim of this study was to assess the presence, location and, multiplanar distance of the canalis sinuosus (CS) between the incisive foramen and the anterior maxillary alveolar ridge using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Therefore, 500 CBCT maxillary images obtained from male and female patients aged 20 to 80 years were selected to assist in the dental treatment. Low-quality tomographic images were discarded. All images were captured with the i-CATTM Classic tomograph and assessed using the XoranCatTM software. The axial sections were analyzed at the incisive foramen in order to verify the CS presence in laterality and location. Furthermore, linear measurements of the nasal cavity floor, buccal cortical bone, and alveolar ridge crest were made. All the collected data were statistically analyzed. Results show a variation of the CS in relation to the classification and distance of anatomical structures, but no significant difference between the right and left sides. It should be highlighted that CBCT is necessary before invasive procedures in order to preserve important anatomical structures. In conclusion, the location of the CS varies in relation to the alveolar ridge crest and buccal cortical bone, assuming that it is going to be located by the upper lateral incisor palatine.

Investigation on the relationship of dimensions of the maxillary sinus drainage system with the presence of sinusopathies: a cone beam computed tomography study

OBJECTIVE This study sought to assess the relationship between the dimensions of the maxillary sinus drainage system with the content of sinuses. DESIGN Three-hundred cone beam computed tomography images were selected from a database (105 males and 195 females). The images were assessed by a single investigator, trained and calibrated, performing image analysis. The length of the infundibulum and the ostium height in both maxillary sinuses were measured. The data were analyzed using Minitab 16, using 5% as a critical p-value. RESULTS A significant gender difference was also found for presence in the normal content of sinus for females and presence of antral pseudocyst for males (p < 0.05). Subjects with normal content in the maxillary sinus present lower ostium height values. There were statistically significant with presence of and higher ostium height values and antral pseudocyst (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION The current study results demonstrated that some sinusopathies were significantly related to dimensions of maxillary sinus drainage.

Three-dimensional lateral pterygoid muscle volume: MRI analyses with insertion patterns correlation

We evaluated lateral pterygoid muscle volume in closed and open mouth positions in association with anterior disc displacement, effusion and abnormal articular disc shape from three-dimensional reformations of MRI. A total of 24 MRI of a sample (15 females, 9 males) aged 19-64 years (37.2 years±11.4) were assessed. Segmentation and volumetric assessment of the total, upper and lower heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle were performed using free software. The upper head of the lateral pterygoid muscle had a smaller volume than the lower head at both sides, in the closed- and open-mouth positions. In the open-mouth position, individuals with a subdivided upper head, where one component was inserted in the articular disc and another in the mandibular head, displayed a significantly larger volume of the upper head compared to individuals who had a single attachment to the articular disc (p=0.0130). The lateral pterygoid muscle has different volumes in the closed- and open-mouth positions. Gender affected muscle volume, specifically the upper head component. Insertion type in the upper head also seemed to affect muscle volume.

Imaging Aspects of Palatal Torus in Cone Beam Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance: Case Report

The torus palatinus is a unilocular or multilocular exostosis that occurs in the midline of the hard palate. It is considered a common clinical finding. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not commonly used in dentistry and descriptions of the torus by this imaging method are therefore rare in the literature. This case study reports on a female patient referred to the dentist to elucidate a bone enlargement detected by MRI, which was requested by the physician who accompanied the patient for migraine treatment. Additional routine dental imaging exams were performed for the planning of different treatments. Here is a description of the torus palatinus along with MRI in order to provide a complete representation of the clinical finding.