Radiation-induced craniofacial deformities: A new classification and management algorithm

Late Complications in Long-Term Childhood Cancer Survivors: What the Oral Health Professional Needs to Know

With diagnostic and therapeutic advances, over 80% of children diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors. As the number of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) continues to increase, dental practitioners become more likely to have CCS among their patients. CCS may develop late complications from damage caused by their cancer treatment to endocrine, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and other organ systems. These complications may surface decades after the completion of treatment. Adverse outcomes of childhood cancer treatment frequently involve oral and craniofacial structures including the dentition. Tooth development, salivary gland function, craniofacial growth, and temporomandibular joint function may be disturbed, increasing oral health risks in these individuals. Moreover, CCS are at risk of developing subsequent malignancies, which may manifest in or near the oral cavity. It is important that dental practitioners are aware of the childhood cancer history of their patients and have knowledge of potential late complications. Therefore, this narrative review aims to inform dental practitioners of late oral complications of cancer treatment modalities commonly used in pediatric oncology. Furthermore, selected common non-oral late sequelae of cancer therapy that could have an impact on oral health and on delivering dental care will be discussed.

Complications of Cancer Therapy in Children: A Comprehensive Review of Neuroimaging Findings

ABSTRACT

Complications of cancer therapy in children can result in a spectrum of neurologic toxicities that may occur at the initiation of therapy or months to years after treatment. Although childhood cancer remains rare, increasing survival rates mean that more children will be living longer after cancer treatment. Therefore, complications of cancer therapy will most likely occur with increasing frequency.At times, it is very difficult to differentiate between therapeutic complications and other entities such as tumor recurrence, development of secondary malignancy, and infection (among other conditions). Radiologists often play a key role in the diagnosis and evaluation of pediatric patients with malignancies, and thus, awareness of imaging findings of cancer complications and alternative diagnoses is essential in guiding management and avoiding misdiagnosis. The aim of this review article is to illustrate the typical neuroimaging findings of cancer therapy-related toxicities, including both early and late treatment effects, highlighting pearls that may aid in making the appropriate diagnosis.

Application of Computer-Assisted Design and Manufacturing-Fabricated Artificial Bone in the Reconstruction of Craniofacial Bone Defects

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical application of individual craniofacial bone fabrications using computer-assisted design (CAD)-computer-assisted manufacturing technology for the reconstruction of craniofacial bone defects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 8 patients diagnosed with craniofacial bone defects were enrolled in this study between May 2007 and August 2010. After computed tomography scans were obtained, the patients were fitted with artificial bone that was created using CAD software, rapid prototyping technology, and epoxy-methyl acrylate resin and hydroxyapatite materials. The fabrication was fixed to the defect area with titanium screws, and soft tissue defects were repaired if necessary.

RESULTS

The fabrications were precisely fixed to the defect areas, and all wounds healed well without any serious complications except for 1 case with intraoral incision dehiscence, which required further treatment. Postoperative curative effects were retrospectively observed after 6 to 48 months, acceptable anatomic and cosmetic outcomes were obtained, and no rejections or other complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of CAD-computer-assisted manufacturing technology-assisted epoxy-methyl acrylate resin and hydroxyapatite composite artificial bone to treat patients with craniofacial bone defects could enable the precise reconstruction of these defects and obtain good anatomic and cosmetic outcomes.

Craniofacial reconstruction using patient-specific implants polyether ether ketone with computer-assisted planning

Reconstruction of bony craniofacial defects requires precise understanding of the anatomic relationships. The ideal reconstructive technique should be fast as well as economical, with minimal donor-site morbidity, and provide a lasting and aesthetically pleasing result. There are some circumstances in which a patient's own tissue is not sufficient to reconstruct defects. The development of sophisticated software has facilitated the manufacturing of patient-specific implants (PSIs). The aim of this study was to analyze the utility of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) PSIs for craniofacial reconstruction. We performed a retrospective chart review from July 2009 to July 2013 in patients who underwent craniofacial reconstruction using PEEK-PSIs using a virtual process based on computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. A total of 6 patients were identified. The mean age was 46 years (16-68 y). Operative indications included cancer (n = 4), congenital deformities (n = 1), and infection (n = 1). The mean surgical time was 3.7 hours and the mean hospital stay was 1.5 days. The mean surface area of the defect was 93.4 ± 43.26 cm(2), the mean implant cost was $8493 ± $837.95, and the mean time required to manufacture the implants was 2 weeks. No major or minor complications were seen during the 4-year follow-up. We found PEEK implants to be useful in the reconstruction of complex calvarial defects, demonstrating a low complication rate, good outcomes, and high patient satisfaction in this small series of patients. Polyether ether ketone implants show promising potential and warrant further study to better establish the role of this technology in cranial reconstruction.

Cross-specialty developments: a summary of the mutually relevant recent literature from the journal of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery

Keeping abreast of current developments is increasingly challenging when the volume of specialty articles being published is rising exponentially, and it is most acute when surgical specialties overlap, as in the case of head, neck, and facial reconstructive surgery. Here, the potential for missing key developments presents a compelling case for a summary article that highlights articles likely to be of mutual relevance. We evaluated 129 original studies and 6 reviews published in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery between September 2012 and August 2014, and summarised the main papers of interest and merit under the subheadings of head and neck reconstruction, cleft lip and palate, craniomaxillofacial surgery, facial palsy, facial trauma, and aesthetic surgery. Most of the evidence presented (86%) is level 4.