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Abnormal elongation of mandibular coronoid process, often defined as coronoid hyperplasia, is a rare condition, which is frequently associated with limited mouth opening. In some cases, the enlarged coronoid pushes the zygoma forward causing facial asymmetry. This case report describes a 16-year-old boy whose chief complaint was a progressive difficulty and deviation in mouth opening, together with a deformity appearing at maximum opening at the zygomatic area. The diagnosis was Unilateral Accessory Mandibular Condyle at coronoid process, without reduction of the mouth opening capacity. A coronoidectomy was carried out by means of piezoelectric surgery, instead of a coronoidotomy which is usually performed in these cases, due to a suspect of ramus neoplasm. Keywords: Coronoid hyperplasia, Accessory condyle, Temporomandibular disorder, Piezoelectric surgery, Adolescent

The authors reported their surgical experience about structural fat grafting in the management of facial volumetric deficit. The purpose of this study was to assess the real indications, cosmetic results, complications, and global patient satisfaction of the Coleman technique in redefining facial contours in congenital and postoperative deformities. A retrospective analysis of 32 patients grafted according to Coleman's technique was performed, and the long-term outcomes and patient satisfaction were evaluated. The mean postoperative clinical follow-up was 14 months. The morphological changes were analyzed by comparing the photographic presurgical facial contour and the postoperative correction of soft tissue defects. All consecutive cases reported showed a progressive fat resorption for 3 months after surgery and its stable integration only after this period. Best results were performed in the treatment of genetically determined syndromes, such as the Franceschetti and Romberg syndromes. The authors suggest this surgical technique also for the treatment of unaesthetic cutaneous abscess cavity after incision and drainage. Unsatisfactory outcomes were obtained in the treatment of the posttraumatic facial scar, which needed more surgical procedures.

Background: COVID-19 is a global pandemic. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact. Therefore, the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare professionals is essential. 3D printing technology could represent a valid option to ameliorate PPE shortages. Methodology: Custom-made face mask were designed on the basis of facial scan and then 3D-printed. The whole protocol is executed with freeware software and only required a 3D printer. Six healthcare workers wore the device weekly thus expressing a judgment regarding quality of work, respiratory and skin comfort. Results: The estimated total cost of a single mask is approximately 5 USD. The virtual design of a complete mask lasted 68 minutes on average. Most healthcare workers rated comfort as very good. Conclusions: Based on the encouraging results obtained, we can confidently confirm that custom-made masks are novel and useful devices that may be used in the fight against COVID-19.

The recent pandemic has led to an unprecedented overload of sanitary systems around the world. Despite that a maxillofacial department is not a frontline specialty in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 infections, our department has found itself faced with numerous problems in keeping the care system active and efficient while ensuring safety for patients and healthcare professionals. Massive redistribution of health personnel was needed to improve prevention and personal safety measures. The education and training system has been kept active, giving residents a decisive role in managing the state of emergency response. This article outlines new guidelines for infection prevention: from clinical control, treatment processes, clinical management, protection, and disinfection of healthcare professionals.

The appropriate surgical management of early-stage oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) remains a debated topic. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of the pre-treatment neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and tumor depth of invasion (DOI) in predicting the presence of occult neck metastases in early-stage OTSCC. A retrospective analysis of patients affected by early-stage (cT1-T2 cN0) OTSCC who were submitted to elective neck dissection (END) was performed. Tumors were classified retrospectively according to the 8th TNM classification, the DOI was assessed on the pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging, and the pre-treatment NLR was calculated for each patient. A logistic regression model to estimate the probability π (x) of cervical metastases by studying the NLR and DOI was carried out. Next, the correlation between the two variables, the NLR and DOI, was preliminarily studied. A cohort of 110 patients was analyzed (mean age, 62 years old; male to female ratio 1.2:1). The patients were staged as cT1 in 53 cases and cT2 in 57 cases. A DOI greater than 5.4 mm and a NLR greater than 2.93 are associated with an increased risk of presenting occult cervical metastases. Furthermore, the variables NLR and DOI are linearly associated with a positive correlation, proved by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient rho of 0.64, with a unitary increase in the DOI of 1 mm directly associated with an increase of 0.47 in the NLR. The DOI and NLR can be effectively used to predict the occurrence of occult neck metastasis and therefore to plan an END in early-stage OTSCC.

Cryotherapy after orthognathic surgery is essential for the control of facial edema. The aim of our study is to evaluate the efficacy of Hilotherapy face mask in reducing facial edema after orthognathic surgery, studying facial surfaces with an innovative, fast, economical 3D facial scan system based on an iPhone app. Eighty-four patients with Class III were included: 35 patients treated with Hilotherm after orthognathic surgery (Group 1), 32 patients with ice packs (Group 2), 7 patients who refused cryotherapy (not 1 - not Group 2). Their facial scans performed immediately after surgery (T0), at 24 (T1), 48 (T2) and 72 h (T3) after surgery, were acquired in specific software, and the discrepancies between them were studied in an accurate 3D volumetric method. We measured a significantly better edema trend in Group 1 in the tragus–nasal wing line and in the tragus–labial commissure line at T1, and also in the tragus–menton line at T2 and T3. In conclusion, Hilotherapy represents a more comfortable and more effective cryotherapy system in controlling the trend of facial edema after orthognathic surgery. The method we used for the facial scans is accurate, cheap, smart, and fast. As demonstrated by the 3D volumetric study of the face, the regions of the middle third of the face are those in which the difference is most noticeable.

Introduction In March 2020 a new viral pandemic was declared. As etiological factor a virus belonging to the coronavirus family was isolated. This virus was named SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19. This virus can cause different clinical frames, variating from mild symptomatology to cases of ARDS or death. Although the pandemic outbroke in China, COVID-19 had one of first hotspots in Italy, where the Public Health System needed a re-arrangement to face the disease. The incidence of oncological disease doesn't suffer any variation in relation to pandemics or emergency period, but need to be managed as soon as possible in every situation. In our maxillo-facial surgery Unit we continued our regular activities to treat all oncological patient that needed surgery during the pandemic. Because of the absence of knowledge about the COVID-19, first periods were very difficult to manage, due to the risk of infection of patients and health professionals. We decided to share our experience. Materials and methods Between March and June 2020, 34 patients affected by head and neck cancer were admitted at our Unit. All patients underwent surgical treatment and were hospitalized until their situation guaranteed a safe discharge. Results All patients treated for head and neck cancer underwent surgery. All the medical and nurse post-operative management was performed by health operators by using all the personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent any possible infection. All contacts between patients and their family were suspended. During phase 1, all patients were submitted to a short verbal triage, measurements of physiological parameters and qualitative COVID-19 test. They were also screened by imaging to guarantee there were not any bronchopulmonary diseases referable to viral infections. During phase 2, patients were also screened by serological tests. During phase 3, all patients practiced oropharyngeal swap before being hospitalized. Discussion During lockdown a re-arrangement of the management of oncological patients was mandatory. The difficulties were caused by the restriction of several activities that guarantee a normal health care system function. To date there is not a standardized therapeutic protocol to face the infection. Main therapies are symptomatic and a lot of patients need to be treated in ICUs. To prevent any possible infections, surgical activities were reserved only for urgent disease that cannot be delayed. In our Unit we continued to manage oncological patients. Social distancing and confinement measures were necessary and mandatory, in order to manage our patients. During first phases we had not any valid instrument to totally exclude COVID-19 infection. During phase 3, when oropharyngeal swaps were introduced in the screening of our patients, we could start to work in a safer way. Conclusion There are still a lot of difficulties in the management of patients during COVID 19 pandemic. Because of the important consequences deriving from the delay of oncological patients their management must to be clearly defined.

OBJECTIVE The aim of our study was to analyze the aesthetic and functional outcome in the radial forearm free flap donor site using a simple split thickness skin grafting (STSG) closure compared with the use of dermal scaffold supporting the STSG closure. METHODS The study analyzed 18 patients, divided in 2 groups based on the donor site closure modality. In STSG group, a simple STSG was used to cover the defect. In the DS + STSG group, the defect was covered by the use of dermal substitute (MatriDerm) supporting the STSG. Groups were compared on the following outcome variable: scar status; hand function; circumferences at most proximal and most distal point of the graft. All patients were followed up 1, 6, and 12 months post-operative. RESULTS Nine patients from STSG group showed a difference in circumference between the operated and contralateral limbs respectively of 2.9 mm proximal and 1.2 mm distal; in the 9 patients of DS + STGS group the difference was respectively of 1.2 mm proximal and 1.3 mm distal. Welch unequal variances t-test demonstrated statistical significance of the values with P

Sinonasal inverting papilloma is a rare benign, locally aggressive tumour, arising from sinus and/or nasal fossa mucosa, with high recurrence rate, and risk of malignant transformation. This is a case of orbital invasive, lateral extending inverting papilloma approached via combined external and endoscopic surgery.

Nowadays, predictive medicine begins to become a reality thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI) which allows, through the processing of huge amounts of data, to identify correlations not perceptible to the human brain. The application of AI in predictive diagnostics is increasingly pervasive; through the use and interpretation of data, the first signs of some diseases (i.e. tumours) can be detected to help physicians make more accurate diagnoses to reduce the errors and develop methods for individualized medical treatment. In this perspective, salivary gland tumours (SGTs) are rare cancers with variable malignancy representing less than 1% of all cancer diagnoses and about 5% of head and neck cancers. The clinical management of SGTs is complicated by a high rate of preclinical diagnostic errors. Today, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) represents the primary diagnostic tool in the hands of clinicians. However, it provides information that about 25% of cases are dubious or inconclusive, complicating therapeutic choices. Thus, finding new tools supporting clinicians to make the right choices in doubtful cases is necessary. This research work presents and discusses a Deep Learning-based framework for automatic segmentation and classification of salivary gland tumours. Furthermore, we propose an explainable segmentation learning approach supporting the effectiveness of the proposed framework through a per-epoch learning process analysis and the attention map mechanism. The proposed framework was evaluated with a collected CT dataset of patients with salivary gland tumours. Experimental results show that our methodology achieves significant scores on both segmentation and classification tasks.

Objectives: This prospective study evaluated the accuracy of mandibular reconstruction using free fibular flaps (by comparing virtual plans to the three-dimensional postoperative results), and the extent of bone-to-bone contact after computer-assisted surgery. Methods: We included 65 patients who underwent partial-continuity mandibular resections from February 2013 to January 2017, and evaluated virtual planning, surgical techniques, and accuracy. Results: Forty-seven patients were analysed. A total of 112 fibular segments received 54 implants. We measured 227 distances between landmarks to assess the accuracy of reconstruction. Postoperative reconstruction accuracy ranged from 0.5 to 3 mm. Conclusion: Virtual surgical planning very accurately translated simulation into reality, particularly in patients requiring large, complex mandibular reconstructions using multiple fibular segments. Level of evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2169–E2175, 2021.

Mandibular fractures are the third most frequents maxillo-facial fractures. Most frequent site is the subcondylar region. Different approaches to reach subcondylar region, have been described. In the study was evaluated the advantages of neuromuscular block during endoscopic surgery for subcondylar fractures. Twenty-five patients affected by subcondylar fractures were enrolled in this study and divided in 2 groups; group A: patients who received an intraoperative booster of curare during surgical procedure and group B patients who underwent surgery treated without the intraoperative booster of curare. All patients were treated successfully by endoscope-assisted transoral approach. The analysis of time required for surgery showed a reduction in group A comparing to group B. The mean time for surgery for the patients in group B with displacement between 0° and 45° was 170 minutes, and for 45° to 90° was 230 minutes. In group A, the mean time was 117.5 minutes for patients with condylar displacement between 0° and 45°, and 147.5 minutes for the other group. In conclusion, deep neuromuscular block seems to improve the surgical conditions in patients undergoing subcondylar endoscopic assisted surgery, further study needs to assess this surgical technique in order to better define this surgical protocol.

Protruding ears are a common occurrence and can affect the aesthetics and psychosocial aspects of patients. Hundreds of procedures have been described over the years to correct the 2 main deformities related to protruding ears: conchal hypertrophy and anti-helical fold absence.For the rasping technique, the rasp is inserted posteriorly, from the side where the skin is excised;The ending part of the forceps looks like a small rasp, it worked very well and the surgery was completed without problemsThe authors think this tip could be a useful "tool" for all the surgeons used to perform cartilage rasping "in case of necessity" when rasp is not available.

Background: The esthetic characteristics of face and nose are commonly evaluated before rhinoplasty using a completely subjective method, due to the lack of validated and reliable methods for quantifying facial esthetics and for accurate nose treatment planning. The aim of the study was to review the literature to determine and evaluate the points, distances, and angles commonly used in the treatment planning for rhinoplasty. Methods: Research based on anthropometric studies of the face and nose, published from 1987 to 2018 was included. Finally, 138 papers were selected after a statistical analysis through a simple random and non-random sample selection, and all papers were evaluated in their entirety. Results: According to the frequency of citation, 198 points, 336 distances, and 199 angles were listed. The first quartile of each distribution was eliminated, and frequency of more than 25% was selected. A group of 49 points, 77 distances, and 11 angles, were classified according to their anatomical region, that is, bone and soft tissues, was obtained. Conclusions: An enormous inhomogeneity and lack of standardized anthropometric measurement system, specifically of the nose, was evident, as the studies were conducted by authors of different origins. According to universally accepted parameters, the importance of a reliable method for nose surgery planning is highlighted.

Maxillo-mandibular reconstruction in pediatric patients involves particular functional and cosmetic implications. Attention is required for the craniofacial growth over time, involvement of the permanent dentition, facial symmetry, and donor site morbidity. Our aim is to identify the best reconstructive options for maxilla-mandibular defects in children (

Sinonasal mucosal melanoma is a rare and highly aggressive tumour. This tumour often carries a poor prognosis because of local invasion and early distant metastasis. It’s, in fact, an aggressive, fortunately rare, disease. It’s more common among population in their seventies, with a prolonged course due to innocuous symptoms. We report a case of sinonasal mucosal melanoma in a 56-years old male who presented with a brownish sinonasal mass involving right nasal fossa, swelling and spontaneous epistaxis. We report this case for the one-time reconstruction treatment performed by our team.

Introduction The midcheek is considered one of the most important facial area due to its involvement in mimic expression and communication. Pathology of this district is complex due to the variety of soft tissue belonging to the face. We propose a surgical simulation, to assess the feasibility of a new minimally invasive endoscopic approach for midcheek mass removal. Technical report This study was performed on four cadavers, at the Anatomy Laboratory of the University of Tubingen. In all the cadavers 3 cm 3 of Acquasil Dent Sply Ultra were injected via trans-cutaneous along the nasolabial fold to simulate a midcheek mass. Three incisions in concealed areas were performed to create an access to reach the anterior compartment of the face. By using the Optical Dissector with distal spatula and a 30° endoscope we provided a wide surgical window and a greater exposure to isolate, dissect and remove the midcheek tumor model safely. Conclusion The proposed endoscopic technique allowed us to visualize and preserve all the key anatomic structures of the midcheek region. Due to its nature, the suggested material may provide a valid tumor model for surgical training also in other districts.

Purpose Inverted papilloma (IP) is a tumor usually arising from sinonasal cavities, with tendency for recurrence and possible malignant transformation. Along with endoscopy, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) play a crucial role in defining preoperative staging, tumor origin, and possible differential diagnosis, with significant repercussions on therapeutic planning. However, at present no consensus has been reached concerning IP diagnostic workup. Aim of this study is to assess CT and MRI sensitivity and specificity in identifying IP imaging hallmarks, evaluating their global diagnostic accuracy in order to define a novel diagnostic flowchart. Methods We retrospectively analyzed multimodal imaging of patients with histologically confirmed IP and mimics. Two neuroradiologists in consensus retrospectively rated the presence of typical imaging features of IP, both on CT and MRI scans. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy were assessed for both the techniques. Final results were expressed as ROC curves and relative areas under the curve (AUC). Results The AUC considering CT parameters were 0.42, whereas the AUC considering MRI parameters were 0.54. Combining the 2 techniques and limiting the evaluation to the most distinctive features such as focal hyperostosis and CCP, the AUC was 0.79. Conclusion MRI can provide better tissue characterization and higher diagnostic accuracy in case of suspected IP, whereas CT is more useful in determining bony involvement. Here we propose a possible diagnostic flowchart for IP, based on the assumption that the combination of the imaging techniques allows to optimize the clinical assessment and the subsequent therapeutic planning.

Oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (Scc) occur most commonly in middle-aged and elderly individuals.Free flaps are commonly used for reconstruction of extensive tumor resection defects in the oral cavity. Age alone is not an independent variable for increased risk in microvascular reconstruction; however operative time and ASA risk score correlated with medical complications but not with surgical complications.The submental island flap has proven to be a reliable alternative in reconstruction of composite oral cavity defects for its thinness, pliability and versatility in design, shared by the radial forearm free flap, and its advantageous donor site. The submental flap can be easily raised and involves shorter operative time and hospital stay compared to the free-flap procedure. It can be an excellent choice in patients with a high ASA risk score, moreover in elderly patients, where the potential complications linked to microsurgical procedures are avoided. © 2016 IJS Publishing Group Ltd.

Background: A major concern regarding permanent lip fillers is difficulty with revision should this be required. Currently, the only way to treat lip sequelae is by surgical remodeling. Objectives: Based on the senior author's 6-year experience, the authors collectively suggest a surgical method to correct lip deformity in such situations. Methods: The records of 38 patients with lip deformity who underwent surgery between 2011 and 2017 after receiving permanent filler injections were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 38 consecutive patients (69 lips) with an average age of 38.8 years (range, 28-52 years) were treated surgically. Results: All patients experienced postoperative swelling (average duration, 15 days), and no infections were recorded. In 3 cases, a 1-cm dehiscence was documented, which healed by secondary intention. In 1 case, a hematoma noted several days after surgery resolved spontaneously within 3 weeks. In 2 upper lips, a minor touchup procedure (with the patient under local anesthesia) was performed 9 months after the initial surgery. Overall, patients noted that it took at least 6 to 9 months to achieve natural lip movement. The average time until softening of the lip tissue was 4 months. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the importance of informing patients that complete removal of permanent filler is not always possible. However, most of the authors' patients were pleased with the results. This study also highlights the importance of paying strict attention when approaching the area adjacent to the oral commissures in order to avoid potential reductions in mouth opening that can occur from postoperative scarring. Level of Evidence: 4:. Background: A major concern regarding permanent lip fillers is difficulty with revision should this be required. Currently, the only way to treat lip sequelae is by surgical remodeling. Objectives: Based on the senior author's 6-year experience, the authors collectively suggest a surgical method to correct lip deformity in such situations. Methods: The records of 38 patients with lip deformity who underwent surgery between 2011 and 2017 after receiving permanent filler injections were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 38 consecutive patients (69 lips) with an average age of 38.8 years (range, 28-52 years) were treated surgically. Results: All patients experienced postoperative swelling (average duration, 15 days), and no infections were recorded. In 3 cases, a 1-cm dehiscence was documented, which healed by secondary intention. In 1 case, a hematoma noted several days after surgery resolved spontaneously within 3 weeks. In 2 upper lips, a minor touchup procedure (with the patient under local anesthesia) was performed 9 months after the initial surgery. Overall, patients noted that it took at least 6 to 9 months to achieve natural lip movement. The average time until softening of the lip tissue was 4 months. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the importance of informing patients that complete removal of permanent filler is not always possible. However, most of the authors' patients were pleased with the results. This study also highlights the importance of paying strict attention when approaching the area adjacent to the oral commissures in order to avoid potential reductions in mouth opening that can occur from postoperative scarring. Level of Evidence: 4:.

The oral tongue is the most common site for tumours within the oral cavity. Despite intense research, there has been no improvement in the survival rate for patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) during the last decades. Differences between oral cancer patients based on ethno-geographical distribution have been reported. The present study used immunohistochemistry to evaluate commonly used markers of cancer cell phenotypes, E-cadherin, β-catenin and cytokeratins 5 and 19, in 120 patients with OTSCC. To evaluate the impact of ethnicity, patients from Sweden and Italy were included. A higher proportion of Swedish patients exhibited high expression of E-cadherin in their tumours (P=0.039), and high levels of E-cadherin in Swedish OTSCC patients that had succumbed to their disease were associated with poor prognosis. These data demonstrated differences in the pathological characteristics of OTSCC between two different European populations. The findings emphasise the need to take ethnicity/geographical location of patients into account when comparing results from different studies of OTSCC.

Background Surgical approaches to the midcheek area are challenging. This area is included between the lower eyelid above, and the upper lip below. The peculiar anatomical location makes it really important for attractiveness, thus the need to obtain a correct balance between the operation's safety and minimally invasive aspect. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first showcase and technical description of a novel minimally invasive endoscopic approach for midcheek mass removal. Methods Making 3 incisions in concealed area an endoscopically aided facial dissection was performed to remove a solitary venus malformation of the left midcheek region. Results After the surgical procedure was performed, no hematoma, no edema, or facial nerve paralysis were observed. To date, during the follow-up period, no recurrence of the lesion has been observed, and the quality of life of the patient was good with a minimally scar outcome. Magnetic resonance imaging, performed 2 weeks postoperatively, demonstrated a complete removal of the mass CONCLUSION:: The authors' finding experience suggests that the minimally invasive approach provides an excellent surgical window that achieves greater exposure for the dissection of the midcheek area. Further clinical applications are required to assess advantages and/or limitations of this procedure.

Myoepithelial carcinoma (MC), also known as malignant myoepithelioma, shows an infiltrative and destructive growth [1]. Myoepithelial neoplasms account for about 1.5% of all salivary tumors, and MC is even more rare, representing about 10% of myoepitheliomas [1–3] with a reported incidence of 0.2% of all salivary gland tumors. In this case, the cytological diagnosis (pleomorphic adenoma) and negative lymph nodes, addressed the surgeon for a parotidectomy, following guidelines and literature [27]. The best treatment for huge, relapsing tumors, notwithstanding cytological diagnosis, is not only parotidectomy, as lymphadenectomy should be performed too, given myoepithelial carcinoma's high-grade potential and unpredictable biologic behavior. Careful patient follow-up and staging, is therefore essential for better characterization and understanding of this tumor's behavior in the future. We also considered a more conservative treatment following guidelines, as this case was lacking metastases and lymphatic involvement, considering that application of guidelines, surgical and clinical expertise and appropriate technology can contain potential medicolegal implications [28].

Synovial Chondromatosis (SC) of the upper temporomandibular joint (TMJ) compartment spreading into the cranial space is a very rare condition and only 13 cases are described in Literature. The case of a 45-year-old woman with a slight swelling of the right TMJ and opening clicking is presented in this report. Patient orthopantomography showed large calcified masses in the right TMJ space. CT scan and MRI confirmed this finding showing granular masses surrounding the right condylar head spreading into the middle cranial fossa. After biopsy, the lesion was diagnosed as SC, and radical surgical excision was performed. A good functional recovery with no signs of recurrence at 18 months of follow-up was obtained with a good cosmetic result. An extensive review of the literature has been performed and the results are presented in order to establish a correct diagnostic-therapeutic protocol for these oncologic patients.

Facial symmetry, as well as function, remains the big challenge for surgeons who attempt mandibular reconstruction. Nowadays several studies recommend the use of computer aided surgery (CAS) and CAD/CAM technology to guide mandibular segmental osteotomies and reconstruction using free fibula flap. Although these systems have radically changed the way of doing mandibular reconstructive surgery, they are expensive and require extended periods of time for prototypation. This may be an important limitation in case of malignant neoplasms which require short-term treatment. The aim of our study is to investigate the reliability and efficiency of a protocol to obtain cutting guides produced in a “homemade” way. This study includes four consecutive patients who underwent a segmental mandibulectomy and fibula osteo-cutaneous free flap reconstruction for oral squamous cell carcinoma between January and September 2016. The CAD/CAM system algorithm proposed was based on the use of free open source software for digital planning and 3D layer plastic deposition printer. A cost of about 3 Euro for each case was estimated. An average mean distance between 3D preoperative and postoperative mesh points of 1.631 mm and a standard deviation of 5.496 mm has been demonstrated by 3D volume overlay analysis. Overlapping results with much shorter prototyping time was required with the in-house procedure described as compared to the available commercial system. In conclusion, we expect that this technique will reduce operative time and cost however further study and large series are needed to confirm our results and better define the applicability in everyday surgical practice.

Background Optimum management of clinically negative neck (cN0) remains controversial in early stage (T1-T2) squamous cell cancer of the oral tongue (OTSCC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of pre-treatment Neutrophil-to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting occult cervical metastasis in stage I and II OTSCC. Methods We carried out a retrospective chart review on 110 patients suffering from early stage OTSCC who were surgically treated with tumour excision and elective neck dissection (END). Our cohort was divided in pN+ and pN0 groups basing on histopathological examination after elective neck dissection. For each patient pre-treatment NLR was calculated. Results A statistically significant relationship between high levels of pre-treatment NLR and probability rate for neck occult metastases (0.000496 p-value) has been found. On our model the cut-off value was set for NLR >2.93. Above this level the probability to finding metastasis in a clinically negative neck increases exponentially. Conclusion These preliminary results offer clinicians an easily obtainable tool to stratify patients based on risks of metastatic node in whom END could be indicated.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, SCCHN, is a heterogeneous group of tumours not only concerning the site of origin but also regarding aetiology. The 5-year survival for the whole group of SCCHN tumours has not significantly improved over the last 20-25 years. Apart from tumour spread to lymph nodes, N status, gains and losses of specific chromosomes are the only factors shown to be independent prognostic markers for these tumours. Worldwide, an increasing number of people ≤ 40 years are seen being affected by tongue SCC, the most common tumour within the SCCHN group. Even without any clinical signs of metastasis, up to 30% of all tongue SCC have histologically detectable spread to lymph nodes. In this mini review, field cancerization, tumour microenvironment, the so called EMT (epithelial mesenchymal transition) process and the role of viruses in development of SCCHN are discussed as well as potential new therapeutic targets. For the group of tongue SCC, with the increasing incidence seen in young patients and particularly women, new data with impact on prognosis and treatment are urgently needed. But as long as data from the analyses of several sub sites are presented as valid for the whole group of tumours, this vital point is missed.

Granular cell tumor (GCT), a relatively rare neuroectodermal tumor occurring most often in the head and neck region, is not uncommonly associated with pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia of the overlying surface epithelium, which may be at times nonreadily distinguishable from well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). To the best of our knowledge, only a handful of coexisting SCC and GCT, mostly described in the esophagus, have been reported in (the current) literature so far. We herein report 2 new cases of coexisting GCT and SCC of the head and neck region, located, respectively, in larynx and tongue; comment on their clinical, imaging, and pathologic features; and discuss their management. In the present work, we also review the literature concerning this association to contribute to the head and neck pathologists’ and surgeons’ awareness regarding the possibility of this association for an adequate surgical excision and a better management of these patients.

This is a literature review and retrospective chart review of ten years experience on the treatment of midcheek masses in our department. The purpose of this study is to provide the reader with an overview of the pathology of this complex anatomic area focusing the attention on the differential diagnosis and the recent surgical strategies. From May 2002 to December 2012 we enrolled 22 consecutive patients studied for masses located in the midcheek area. Only four studies were found in the literature describing the experience of individual centres reporting few cases of midcheek masses. Combined with the previously reported 37 cases, we describe 22 lesions for a total of 59 cases. Patients were evaluated with a head and neck clinical and instrumental examination. Apart from 4 cases treated with intramuscular infiltration of botulinum toxin for masseter hypertrophy, surgical approach to the lesions was varied: 10 patients received an external approach (standard parotidectomy approach or face-lift-type approach); 6 patients had the lesion removed through an intraoral approach; in 2 cases a direct skin incision was performed. In our series we found a significant rate (55.5%) of temporary complications in all the procedures performed (external, intraoral, direct skin approach). This study aims to emphasize the role of endoscope assisted surgery as a possible alternative to the traditional approaches for the management of well selected benign midcheek masses. It would be advisable to increase the study of the endoscopic anatomy of the midcheek area in order to standardize the procedure and better define the surgical indications. 2014 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Purpose The aim of this study was to report management and outcomes in patients affected by eyelids carcinomas involving regional lymph nodes. Methods We have retrospectively analyzed the data of patients affected by eyelids carcinoma with nodal involvement. The clinical records of 10 patients with malignant eyelid carcinoma and regional nodal metastasis treated between September 2011 and March 2015 have been analyzed. Results The study included 5 women and 5 men (median age 54,5 years; range 37-80 years). The most common tumor was the squamous cell carcinoma (4 cases) followed by sebaceous carcinoma (2 cases): 1 case of epidermoid carcinoma, 1 case of malignant melanoma, 1 case of Merkel carcinoma, and 1 case of basal cell carcinoma. All patients were treated by surgical resection; in 2 cases, orbital exenteration was required. The treatment of regional nodal metastasis consisted of parotidectomy and radical neck dissection followed by radiation therapy. None of the patients developed local recurrence. Three patients died: one, affected by Merkel cell carcinoma, died after 2 months because of metastatic dissemination to the lung; another one, affected by epidermoid carcinoma involving the orbit, died because of liver metastasis; the third one, affected by malignant melanoma, died because of other causes. The follow-up time ranged from 9 to 36 months (median 19.3 months). Conclusions Patients affected by advanced malignant eyelid carcinoma need to be strictly controlled because metastasis can develop at least 5 years after surgical treatment. Therapy may include a combination of local surgery, neck dissection, and radiation.

Purpose: Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) of the head and neck are rare anomalies, but often present with significant haemorrhage or cosmetic defects. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of embolization of each type of vascular malformation. Methods: A retrospective review was performed between January 2009 to June 2015 on 36 patients who were diagnosed vascular malformations in the head and neck regions and were referred to our department for transarterial or percutaneous embolization before the surgical approach. Results: All 26 AVM were embolized with a transarterial approach: 18 with Onyx, 8 with a combination of PVA and coils. All patients with an AVM had a single endovascular approach. All 10 venous-lymphatic malformations were treated with a percutaneous sclerotherapy with ethanol injection. Complete healing was obtained in 30 patients (83%). In 6 (17%) there was a recurrence with necessity of a retreatment, 4 at 6 months, 2 at 12 months. Conclusion: Transarterial embolization and percutaneous scleroterapy is a safe treatment for artero-venous malformations before the surgical treatment. A multidisciplinary approach is fundamental to reduce the bleeding risks, the time of the surgical intervention and favouring a lesser demolitive approach particularly in large vascular malformations. Surgical complications occurred in 6 patients (17%); all of them developed infections of the surgical wounds; 3 of these developed necrosis of the skin flap used for the reconstruction with subsequent dehiscence. No other complications including sepsis, hemorrhages, cranial nerve palsies or neuropathies occurred.

Purpose Maxillofacial fractures represent a serious public health problem. Their epidemiology is extremely variable, and its analysis is crucial to establish effective treatment and prevention of these injuries. However only two works have been published about maxillofacial fracture epidemiology in Italy. Materials and methods The records of 1720 patients diagnosed with maxillofacial fractures in a 15-years period (2001–2015) in our department were retrospectively reviewed. Results A total of 1108 male and 612 female patients were included in the study. The most frequent aetiology of fracture was road traffic injuries (57.1%), followed by assault (21.7%), falls (14.2%), work accidents (3.5%), sport accidents (3.3%) and other causes (0.2%). Significant variations of aetiology were detected between males and females and between Italians and individuals from other countries. The most frequently observed fracture involved the mandible (861 cases, 36%), followed by zygoma (489 cases, 20.4%), orbital walls (386 cases, 16.1%) and maxilla (282 cases, 11.8%). Conclusion Road traffic legislation enforcement and continuous public education regarding the use of security devices remain an ongoing problem in our region and should be encouraged. In the same way, as migration flows influence and change the epidemiology of facial traumas, it is crucial to establish social support programs that avoid these disadvantaged categories of victims of violence and crime.

Mandibular osteotomies are usually required to treat craniomaxillofacial disorders. Losses of mandibular continuity result in esthetic and functional deficiency. During the past 30 years, the spread of the computer-assisted surgery techniques, rapid prototyping, and surgical navigation technique has improved the reliability and the outcomes of mandibular resections and reconstructions, by providing realtime feedback to surgeon. Recent studies reported the feasibility and the precision of surgical navigation applied to mandibular surgical resection and reconstruction with fibula flap but none of them describes a method to navigate the jaw allowing its full motility during the operation. To our knowledge, this is the first-time description of such a kind of method to navigate the jaw positioning the dynamic reference frame directly on the mandibular branch to maintain the full mobility of the mandible. The method described in our series has allowed an accurate surgical navigation of the jaw without the need of intermaxillary fixation. This technique could greatly facilitate resection and reconstructive surgical procedures of the jaw while ensuring precision and accuracy. The encouraging results obtained in the present report suggest to further investigate the possibilities of this technique to better define the method and its indications.

Orthognathic surgery is widely used to correct dentofacial discrepancies. However, this procedure presents numerous possible complications. The aim of our study is to review intraoperative and postoperative complications related to orthognathic surgery based upon a 10-year period in the Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Federico II University of Naples. Medical records of 423 patients who undergone orthognathic surgery in a 10-year period were retrospectively analyzed and complications was noted. Statistical analysis was conduced in order to understand if the type of surgical procedure influenced complications rate. One hundred eighty-five complications in 143 (33.8%) of the 423 treated patients were reported. Complications detected were nerve injury (49 cases, 11.9%), infections (10 cases, 2.4%), complications related to fixation plates or screws (30 cases, 7.1%), bad split osteotomy (8 cases, 1.9%), secondary temporo-mandibular joint disorders (36 cases, 8.5%), dental injuries (21 cases, 5%), condilar resorption (2 cases, 0.5%), and necessity of a second-time surgery (24 cases, 5.7%). Serious complications seem to be quite rare in orthognathic surgery. Some of the surgical complications found are related to the surgeon experience and not strictly to the risks of the operation itself. Understanding potential complications allows the surgeon to guarantee safe care through early intervention and correctly inform the patient in the preoperative colloquy.

Up-to-date, several molecular markers of prognosis have been studied in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC), but none entered in the clinical setting. Therapy of OSCC tumors mainly relies on surgery, radiotherapy and partially on chemotherapy; there is an urgent need for biomarkers able to better stratify OSCC patients’ risk to address targeted therapeutic strategies. The role of immune response in the pathogenesis and biological behavior of OSCC has been investigated by several authors, and promising results have been obtained with immune checkpoint inhibitors. We already investigated the role of the immune modulator FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP51), a FK506-binding immunophilin, in cutaneous melanoma biology, and its expression in several human solid tumors. In the present study, we aimed to assess the value of FKBP51 expression in OSCC tumor cells as a marker of outcome. We collected clinical data from 72 patients who underwent surgery for Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue, floor, lips and palate. FKBP51 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded tumor tissues. In addition, we evaluated the human papillomavirus (HPV) status of primary tumors by immunohistochemistry, viral subtyping and In Situ Hybridization (ISH) assay. We found that high FKBP51-expressing tumors characterized the OSCCs with the worst prognosis: the high immunohistochemical expression of FKBP51 associated with death occurring within five years from the diagnosis with a sensitivity of 88.46% and a specificity of 91.67%. The estimated positive predictive value of the test was 88.45% and negative predictive value 91.67%. We tested FKBP51 mRNA presence, by RT-PCR assay, in a selected series of OSCC tumors, and we found that mRNA correlated well to the protein expression and to the clinical outcome. Applying the Bayes formula, we estimated an 88% probability of dying within five years from the diagnosis of OSCC patients with a high FKBP51 immunohistochemical (IHC) test result (>51% of FKBP51 positive tumor cells). On the basis of our analysis, we propose tumor tissue expression of FKBP51 protein as a reliable prognostic marker for OSCC tumors.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) comprises a large group of cancers in the oral cavity and nasopharyngeal area that typically arise in older males in association with alcohol/tobacco usage. Within the oral cavity, the mobile tongue is the most common site for tumour development. The incidence of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is increasing in younger people, which has been suggested to associate with a viral aetiology. Two common human oncogenic viruses, human papilloma virus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are known causes of certain types of SCCHN, namely the oropharynx and nasopharynx, respectively. EBV infects most adults worldwide through oral transmission and establishes a latent infection, with sporadic productive viral replication and release of virus in the oral cavity throughout life. In view of the prevalence of EBV in the oral cavity and recent data indicating that it infects tongue epithelial cells and establishes latency, we examined 98 cases of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the mobile tongue and 15 cases of tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma for the presence of EBV-encoded RNAs (EBERs), EBV DNA and an EBV-encoded protein, EBNA-1. A commercially available in situ hybridisation kit targeting EBER transcripts (EBER-ISH) showed a positive signal in the cytoplasm and/or nuclei of tumour cells in 43% of TSCCs. However, application of control probes and RNase A digestion using in-house developed EBER-ISH showed identical EBER staining patterns, indicating non-specific signals. PCR analysis of the BamH1 W repeat sequences did not identify EBV genomes in tumour samples. Immunohistochemistry for EBNA-1 was also negative. These data exclude EBV as a potential player in TSCC in both old and young patients and highlight the importance of appropriate controls for EBER-ISH in investigating EBV in human diseases. Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) comprises a large group of cancers in the oral cavity and nasopharyngeal area that typically arise in older males in association with alcohol/tobacco usage. Within the oral cavity, the mobile tongue is the most common site for tumour development. The incidence of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is increasing in younger people, which has been suggested to associate with a viral aetiology. Two common human oncogenic viruses, human papilloma virus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are known causes of certain types of SCCHN, namely the oropharynx and nasopharynx, respectively. EBV infects most adults worldwide through oral transmission and establishes a latent infection, with sporadic productive viral replication and release of virus in the oral cavity throughout life. In view of the prevalence of EBV in the oral cavity and recent data indicating that it infects tongue epithelial cells and establishes latency, we examined 98 cases of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the mobile tongue and 15 cases of tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma for the presence of EBV-encoded RNAs (EBERs), EBV DNA and an EBV-encoded protein, EBNA-1. A commercially available in situ hybridisation kit targeting EBER transcripts (EBER-ISH) showed a positive signal in the cytoplasm and/or nuclei of tumour cells in 43% of TSCCs. However, application of control probes and RNase A digestion using in-house developed EBER-ISH showed identical EBER staining patterns, indicating non-specific signals. PCR analysis of the BamH1 W repeat sequences did not identify EBV genomes in tumour samples. Immunohistochemistry for EBNA-1 was also negative. These data exclude EBV as a potential player in TSCC in both old and young patients and highlight the importance of appropriate controls for EBER-ISH in investigating EBV in human diseases.

Summary and keywords Objectives Several diagnostic tools have been developed to assess benign and potentially malignant disorders of soft tissues. In this study, we aimed to assess the value of the VELscope ® (Visually Enhanced Light Scope) imaging device as a technical tool to investigate malignant lesions of the oral cavity. Material and methods In this retrospective study we analyzed the photographs of 90 patients who suffered from malignant oral soft tissue lesions or carcinoma in situ (CIS) from 2008 to 2014 in the Clinic of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of LMU in Munich. Results In 85.6% of the cases fluorescence quenching/loss could be detected. The average value for the colour red shows a significant difference in pathologic and physiologic tissues (p=0.007) with a higher median for pathologic tissues. For the colours green and blue our measurements show significantly higher values in the healthy tissue (p Conclusion In the near future, VELscope ® could help to a greater extent than visual observation alone in identifying the margins of tumor resections. VELscope ® still lacks the ability to identify the overall risk level of oral lesions.

The keratocyst odontogenic tumor (KCOT) represents a rare and benign but locally aggressive developmental cystic lesion usually affecting the posterior aspect of the mandible bone, the treatment of which has always been raising debate, since Philipsen first described it as a distinct pathological entity in 1956.Recent studies have proposed the use of endoscope-assisted surgical technique, due to the possibility given by the endoscope of improving the effectiveness of the treatment of these lesions thanks to a better visualization of operative field and though a better understanding of the pathology. In this article, we would like to present our experience with the endoscope-assisted treatment of KCOT of the posterior region of the mandible.From April 2000 to April 2012, 32 patients treated for KCOT were enrolled in our retrospective study: patients were divided in 2 groups according to the type of treatment, that is, 18 were treated with traditional enucleation surgery (TES), and 14 patients underwent endoscopic assisted enucleation surgery (EES).Fischer exact test and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare the outcomes between the 2 focusing on the recurrence and complication rates. In the TES group, patients we found a higher recurrence rate (39%) and higher postoperative complication rate at 5-year follow-up.Our data suggested, though, that EES seems to be a feasible alternative for the treatment of posterior mandibular KCOT. Further studies and larger series are needed to confirm these results.

Early oral squamous cell carcinoma (EOSCC) represents about 90% of the oral cancers especially in older males. The etiology is multifactorial, strongly related to tobacco and alcohol abuse, but also infective agents, Human papillomaviruses (HPV16-18), genetic factors and pre-neoplastic lesions seem to be implicated. There is no consensus in the literature for the treatment of early squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (stages I-II); both an elective neck dissection policy and a watchful-waiting policy have their proponents in the different centers.The records of 127 patients with EOSCC of the tongue treated in our Department between 2007 and 2011, with cN0 neck staging, who underwent resection of the primary tumor with or without elective neck dissection, were reviewed.We divided the patients into two groups, in Group 1 the 66 patients who received an elective neck dissection 30 days later from the primary surgery have been included, and in Group 2 the 61 patients undergoing "watchful waiting" observation for the development of nodal metastases have been collected. Statistical calculations were performed using Chi-square and t student test.A significant difference was found between the two groups as concerns tumor stage and pathologic tumor classification (p 0.001). No significant differences were present between the two groups as concerns mean follow up (P = 0.2), relapse rate (p = 0.3) and relapse-free survival time (p = 0.2). In T1 stage tumors with depth of infiltration ≤4 mm, or low grade (G1-G2), the "watchful waiting" strategy for cervical metastases is appropriate, given the low regional recurrence rate (15%) and overall survival of 100%. In case of T2 lesions with depth of infiltration ≥4 mm or high grade (G3) we prefer to perform the elective neck dissection, with 13% of local recurrence and 100% of survival at 6 years.

The aim of the present survey was to assess neurosensory disturbances and/or tooth-pulp sensitivity losses after mandibular parasymphyseal bone-harvesting procedures. Twenty-eight harvesting areas in 16 patients were surveyed. Mucosal and skin sensitivity of the chin/lower lip, divided into four regions, were determined via Pointed-Blunt and Two-Point-Discrimination Tests. Pulp sensitivity of the mandibular teeth from the left second bicuspid to the right second bicuspid was tested by cold vitality preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Teeth were grouped according to sensitivity alterations and distance from the harvesting defects, as measured on CT scans, and statistically significant differences sought. At 12 months, 29% of preoperatively vital cuspids overlying the harvesting defects revealed pulp-sensitivity losses; no patient reported anaesthesia or analgesia; hypoaesthesia was present in 4% (8 sites; 2 patients), hypoalgesia was present in 3% (5 sites; 2 patients) and Two-Point-Discrimination Tests yielded pathologic responses in 5% of tested areas (10 sites; 4 patients). Teeth with and without pulp sensitivity changes were statistically indistinguishable regarding distances between root apices or mental foramen and the harvesting defect. The loss of pulp sensitivity in any tooth cannot be predicted simply on the basis of the distance between its apex and the harvesting osteotomy line.

More than 30% of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the mobile tongue have clinically undetectable lymph node metastasis. Tumour cells can spread as single cells or collectively. A protein known to play a role in both processes is podoplanin, which is expressed in endothelial cells not only in lymph vessels but also in some aggressive tumours with high invasive and metastatic potential. Here we studied samples from 129 patients with primary SCC of the tongue for expression of podoplanin using immunohistochemistry. mRNA levels were analysed in another 27 cases of tongue SCC with adjacent clinically tumour‐free tongue tissue and 14 tongue samples from healthy donors. Higher levels of podoplanin were seen in tumours compared to both normal tongue and clinically normal tongue in the tumour vicinity. No association was found between levels of podoplanin, presence of lymph node metastases or other clinical factors. Patients aged 40 or less were more likely to express high levels of podoplanin protein compared to older patients (p = 0.027). We conclude that levels of podoplanin in primary tongue SCCs are not associated with lymph node metastases. However, tongue SCCs arising in young patients (≤40 years of age) are more likely to express high levels of podoplanin than tongue SCCs that arise in the more elderly. The data suggest that podoplanin has a distinctive role in young patients, who are known to have a poor prognosis: these patients may, therefore, benefit from podoplanin inhibitory therapies.

Background: Orbital fracture usually occurs as a result of blunt orbital and facial trauma and may involve ocular injuries. International studies on orbital floor fracture show several differences in epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, surgical treatment modalities, and complication rates; therefore, any comparison should be made with caution. Here we describe an unusual case involving a 19-year-old man with violence-related periorbital trauma, wherein a foreign body (a plastic pen cap) traversed the median wall of the maxillary sinus and penetrated the lower turbinate. Case presentation: A 19-year-old Caucasian man was referred to our department with localized pain and swelling in the left suborbital region following a physical fight in May 2014. A clinical examination revealed no abnormalities in his eyeballs or eye movement, palpation of the orbital contour revealed no fractures, and ophthalmological evaluation showed no evidence of diplopia. A computed tomography scan revealed fractures in the left orbital floor, periorbital tissue herniation without muscular entrapment and left maxillary hemosinus were observed. A hypodense soft tissue mass was lodged in the left orbital floor, which extended to the median wall of the maxillary sinus and penetrated the left lower turbinate. Surgical exploration of the foreign body was conducted, revealing the foreign body to be a pen cap. Conclusions: History or clinical examination alone may be inadequate to raise the suspicion of a retained periorbital foreign body in a situation of orbital region trauma. Computed tomography is important for the evaluation of periorbital injuries, especially because it could reveal the presence of a foreign body. Periorbital foreign bodies can be observed distinctly on computed tomography, which remains the most sensitive study and should be the first imaging modality in such cases.

Background Surgical approaches to the midcheek area are challenging. Recent clinical reports have proposed minimally endoscopic approach again, in order to obtain to obtain a correct balance between the operation's safety and the cosmetic and minimally invasive outcome, but none of them provides a careful anatomic description of the midcheek area. The purpose of this study was to provide a new anatomic perception of the midcheek area through a detailed anatomic endoscopic-assisted dissection. Methods Four freshly injected cadaver heads were dissected to illustrate the endoscopic anatomy of the midcheek region. Results An endoscope provided an excellent surgical window that achieved greater exposure for dissection and at the same time improved magnification of the noble key anatomic elements. Conclusion This study emphasizes the critical role of the transverse facial artery and the facial retaining ligaments as a fundamental endoscopic landmark that allows the identification of key anatomic structures and the creation of safe surgical corridors. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2015

In the field of maxillofacial reconstructive surgery, the authors take into consideration the autogenous calvarial bone graft harvest technique for the correction of maxilla bone defects and examine some salient aspects such as technical problems and possible surgical complications.

A retrospective review of 16 cases of midline (dermoid) cysts of the floor of the mouth is presented, evaluating the different surgical approaches. Sixteen cases of patients with a diagnosis of midline cyst of the floor of the mouth, treated at the Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the School of Medicine and Surgery of the "Federico II" University of Naples (Naples, Italy), were observed over a 10-year period, between 1988 and 1998; age, sex, localization, diagnostic technique, and type of treatment were evaluated. Male patients were more frequently affected, with a male-to-female ratio of 3:1 (12:4 cases). Patients ranged in age from 5 to 51 years (average age, 27.8 years). The preoperative assessment was made using ultrasonography in all cases but one, computed tomography in eight cases, and magnetic resonance imaging in three cases. Regarding surgical techniques used, a transcutaneous approach was adopted for median geniohyoid cysts, an extended median glossotomy technique was used for very large median genioglossal cysts, a median glossotomy technique was used for median genioglossal cysts, and a midline incision of the oral mucosa along the lingual frenulum was used for sublingual cysts. During the postoperative course, there were no complications except for modest edema in three cases. Follow-up ranged between 24 months and 12 years; no relapses or malignant changes were observed. In the authors' experience, the intraoral approach was also effective for the treatment of large lesions and led to very good cosmetic and functional results, whereas the extraoral incision was necessary only when the cysts were under the geniohyoid muscle.