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Plunging ranulas are rare retention pseudocysts of the major salivary glands, most often of the sublingual gland, and usually occur in individuals from the first to the sixth decade of life with female predominance. Given their similar location and physical and imaging characteristics to thyroglossal cysts, distinguishing the two lesions is often a differential diagnostic dilemma even for the experienced physician. This case report presents a 42-year-old man for whom a preliminary diagnosis of a thyroglossal duct cyst was made based on a physical examination. A neck ultrasound was performed and the lesion was surgically excised. However, pathological analysis revealed a plunging ranula of a salivary gland. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the neck was performed. It showed close proximity of the lesion to the right sublingual salivary gland. Because of this, it was assumed that the gland was associated with the occurrence of his condition, and the patient was offered a complete sialoadenectomy. However, the patient refused this plan of treatment. Approximately seven months later there was a recurrence for which he was operated on again. Despite the warning of a high probability of recurrence, the patient categorically refused sialadenectomy., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Yankov et al.)

Oroantral communications (OACs) are relatively common complications after extractions of maxillary posterior teeth. Some defects can heal spontaneously, while others require surgical treatment. The lack of an appropriate therapeutic approach can lead to the epithelialization of the OAC that causes a permanent connection between the two cavities, called an oroantral fistula (OAF), and subsequent chronic sinusitis. Various treatment modalities have been used in cases of OACs, including advancement flaps, bone grafts, synthetic materials, and barrier membranes. We present two cases of closure of OACs with dense polytetrafluoroethylene (d-PTFE) membranes (of FDI tooth #28 in the first case and #17 in the second case), which were left exposed to the oral cavity. In both cases, healing was uneventful., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Yotsova et al.)

This case report presents a 59-year-old female patient with mandibular gingival metastasis from adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid part of the colon, who underwent radical colectomy with simultaneous hysterectomy involving and left oophorectomy (due to tumor involvement) eight years ago. Because of metastatic spread to the liver, a partial left lateral lobectomy was performed, and because of a metastatic lesion in the left adrenal gland, the latter was excised and a partial resection of the left kidney was performed. The patient was given a number of courses of chemotherapy, target therapy, and immunotherapy. In 2024, because of a tumor mass in the oral cavity that was growing and interfering with normal nutrition and speech, she was hospitalized and a radical resection of the lesion was performed along with the involved underlying bone of the lower jaw on the right. The morphological analysis revealed metastasis from large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and the immunohistochemical stains verified the gastrointestinal origin of the lesion. The lesion was accepted as being a result of the phenotypical transformation of the primary adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon. The patient had a normal postoperative period and a smoothly healing wound and continued to be under the management of clinical oncologists supporting chemo-, targeted, and immunotherapy. However, five months after the appearance of the lesion and three months after its surgical removal, after a serious deterioration of her general condition, she passed away at home., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Yankov et al.)

Introduction Despite the constant development of medicine and the increasing accessibility to medical specialists, in the first quarter of the 21 st century, odontogenic abscesses remain one of the leading causes of emergency hospitalization in maxillofacial surgery clinics. Because of the serious and lethal complications that this type of suppurative infection can lead to if not treated promptly, there is a need for constant updating of the knowledge of its origin, which is precisely what is addressed in this original article. Materials and methods It reports on a retrospective study conducted over a five-year period (2018-2023), during which 705 patients aged 18 years and older with a confirmed diagnosis of odontogenic soft tissue abscess of the head and neck underwent emergency surgery. Results The average age of the patients studied was 41 years, with the oldest being an 82-year-old woman. The proportion of males in the study population was higher - 54.18%. Young patients (18-44 years) were the most affected, with a total of 364 patients (213 males and 151 females), while the proportion of old people (75 years of age and older) was the lowest, with a total of 15 patients, including seven males and eight females. The first molars of both jaws (16, 26, 36 and 46) were the cause of the suppurative bacterial infection in the highest number among our study patients - 208 out of 705 (29.5%). Central incisors (teeth 11, 21, 31 and 41) were the least frequent direct cause of odontogenic infection, accounting for only 17 cases out of 705 (2.41%). Discussion The most logical reason for the decrease in the number of patients with odontogenic abscesses with increasing age is tooth loss in older individuals. Our study confirmed the knowledge that the first mandibular molars are the most common teeth leading to the formation of purulent exudate in the adjacent mandibular soft tissues. However, in contrast to the well-known fact for the maxilla that canines are the most frequent etiologic factor for the occurrence of odontogenic abscesses, we conclude that again the first molars (teeth 16 and 26) outnumber the other teeth of the maxillary dentition, with canines outnumbering only incisors. The teeth of the lower jaw are the cause of more than twice as many exudative infections as those of the upper jaw - the ratio between them is 2.54:1. Conclusions Knowledge of odontogenic abscesses - their demographic distribution, frequency and etiology, their diagnosis and treatment - is the basis for the prediction and treatment outcome of these diseases, mainly affecting young people. Their treatment is both surgical in order to evacuate the suppurative focus, and antibacterial., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Yankov et al.)