Tarnjit Saini

The Prevalence of Concha Bullosa and Nasal Septal Deviation and Their Relationship to Maxillary Sinusitis by Volumetric Tomography

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of concha bullosa and nasal septal deviation and their potential relationships to maxillary sinusitis. 883 CT scans taken at Creighton University School of Dentistry from 2005 to 2008 were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of concha bullosa, nasal septal deviation, and maxillary sinusitis. 67.5% of patients exhibited pneumatization of at least one concha, 19.4% of patients had a deviated septum, and 50.0% had mucosal thickening consistent with maxillary sinusitis. 49.3% of patients who had concha bullosa also had evidence of maxillary sinusitis. Only 19.5% of patients with concha bullosa also had nasal septal deviation, whereas 19.7% of patients with sinusitis also presented with nasal septal deviation. Although concha bullosa is a common occurrence in the nasal cavity, there did not appear to be a statistically significant relationship between the presence of concha bullosa or nasal septal deviation and maxillary sinusitis.

Length and Geometric Patterns of the Greater Palatine Canal Observed in Cone Beam Computed Tomography

The greater palatine canal is an important anatomical structure that is often utilized as a pathway for infiltration of local anesthesia to affect sensation and hemostasis. Increased awareness of the length and anatomic variation in the anatomy of this structure is important when performing surgical procedures in this area (e.g., placement of osseointegrated dental implants). We examined the anatomy of the greater palatine canal using data obtained from CBCT scans of 500 subjects. Both right and left canals were viewed (N = 1000) in coronal and sagittal planes, and their paths and lengths determined. The average length of the greater palatine canal was 29 mm (±3 mm), with a range from 22 to 40 mm. Coronally, the most common anatomic pattern consisted of the canal traveling inferior-laterally for a distance then directly inferior for the remainder (43.3%). In the sagittal view, the canal traveled most frequently at an anterior-inferior angle (92.9%).

Multiple enamel pearls in two siblings detected by volumetric computed tomography

A rare case of multiple enamel pearl formation is presented involving the maxillary molars in two siblings incidentally recognized during volumetric CT examination. Although the pathogenesis of ectopic enamel formation is not known, possible mechanisms to account for this phenomenon are discussed in the context of current knowledge regarding root genesis. The radiographic presentation of enamel pearls and its clinical significance is also discussed. The observation of multiple enamel pearls in two siblings raises the possibility of a hereditary association in the formation of enamel pearls.

Contemporary Issues in Head and Neck Pathology and Radiology

The comprehensive evaluation, assessment, and management of patients with non-tooth-related conditions of the head and neck area are essential aspects of the practice of dental medicine. The manuscripts selected for publication in this special issue serve to illustrate the importance of close cooperation between oral and maxillofacial pathology, radiology, oral medicine, and head and neck anatomy in both the initial diagnostic and subsequent treatment phases when evaluating and treating patients with non-tooth-related conditions of the oral and maxillofacial complex. I would like to genuinely thank my Guest Editors, Dr. Neil S. Norton from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb, USA Dr. Preetha P. Kanjirath, from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Mich, USA and Dr. Tarnjit Saini, Brooke Army Medical Center Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Tex, USA for their assistance. Without their involvement and thoughtful discussions, this special issue would not have been possible. I also extend my thanks to the authors who have contributed to this special issue, as well as to the many reviewers who graciously volunteered with the peer-review process. In the lead article in this special edition, “Bone Diseases of the Jaws”, by P. J. Slootweg, provides an overview of the more common and/or important lesions occurring in the oral and maxillofacial complex, while emphasizing the considerable overlap in clinical, histological, and radiological features among these entities. Y. Morimoto and colleagues review the usefulness of ultrasound imaging for the detection of noninvasive and soft tissue-related diseases and introduce three new potential applications of ultrasonography: guided fine-needle aspiration, measurement of tongue cancer thickness, and diagnosis of metastasis to cervical lymph nodes. Subsequent manuscripts explore the relationship between craniofacial pathology and anatomy. L. Sonnesen summarizes recent studies on the link between morphological deviations of the cervical vertebral column and craniofacial morphology, while Guest Coeditor Neil S. Norton and colleagues employ volumetric tomography to review the anatomy of the greater palatine canal and also to rule out a statistically significant association between the prevalence of maxillary sinus disease and the presence of concha bullosa and/or nasal septal deviation. R. A. Mesquita and colleagues critically review the available literature on the nonsurgical treatment of oral leukoplakia, while E. de S. Tolentino and colleagues present a well-documented case of an ameloblastic fibroma that illustrates the need to integrate radiology, oral and maxillofacial pathology, and head and neck anatomy in both the initial diagnosis and subsequent treatment of lesions of the maxillofacial complex. On behalf of my Guest Coeditors and myself, I hope that you will find the manuscripts that comprise this special issue both interesting and informative. Paul C. Edwards Preetha P. Kanjirath Tarnjit Saini Neil S. Norton