Graduate and undergraduate geriatric dentistry education in a selected dental school in Japan

Geriatric dentistry and its instruction are critical in a rapidly ageing population. Japan is the world's fastest-ageing society, and thus, geriatric dentistry education in Japan can serve as a global model for other countries that will soon encounter the issues that Japan has already confronted. This study aimed at evaluating geriatric dental education with respect to the overall dental education system, undergraduate geriatric dentistry curricula, mandatory internships, and graduate geriatric education of a selected dental school in Japan. Bibliographical data and local information were collected. Descriptive and statistical analyses (Fisher and chi-squared test) were conducted. Japanese dental schools teach geriatric dentistry in 10 geriatric dentistry departments as well as in prosthodontic departments. There were no significant differences found between the number of public and private dental schools with geriatric dentistry departments (P = 0.615). At Showa University School of Dentistry, there are more didactic hours than practical training hours; however, there is no significant didactic/practical hour distribution difference between the overall dental curriculum and fourth-year dental students' geriatric dental education curriculum (P = 0.077). Graduate geriatric education is unique because it is a 4-year PhD course of study; there is neither a master's degree programme nor a certificate programme in geriatric dentistry. Overall, both undergraduate and graduate geriatric dentistry curricula are multidisciplinary. This study contributes to a better understanding of geriatric dental education in Japan; the implications of this study include developing a clinical/didactic curriculum, designing new national/international dental public health policies, and calibrating the competency of dentists in geriatric dentistry.

Papillary carcinoma with extensive squamous metaplasia arising from thyroglossal duct cyst in an 11-year-old girl: significance of differentiation from squamous cell carcinoma: a case report

We report a case of papillary carcinoma (PC) with extensive squamous metaplasia arising from a thyroglossal duct cyst (TDC) that required differential diagnosis from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). An 11-year-old Japanese girl presented with a 9-month history of an anterior-midline neck mass that was clinically diagnosed as TDC. Open neck biopsy revealed nested proliferation of atypical squamous cells within the cystic structures, and SCC arising from TDC was initially suspected. Further examination, however, including immunohistochemistry, revealed the tumor to be of thyroid cell origin. The patient underwent wide local resection of the thyroglossal duct carcinoma by Sistrunk procedure and cervical lymph node dissection. Microscopically, the diagnosis was of PC with extensive squamous metaplasia and metastasis to the medial submandibular lymph node. Distinction of squamous metaplasia in PC from SCC is sometimes difficult, but has a significant effect on postoperative management.

Recanalized umbilical vein as a conduit for mesenterico/porto-Rex bypass for patients with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction

PURPOSE

Mesenterico-left portal vein (meso-Rex) bypass is as an effective modality for restoring intrahepatic portal perfusion in patients with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction. Achieving sufficient patency is difficult with end-to-side anastomosis of a bypass graft to a small or hypoplastic left portal vein in the Rex recessus. Here, we describe the use of a recanalized umbilical vein in the round ligament as a conduit for bypass construction in two patients.

METHODS

Case 1 was an 11-year-old boy diagnosed with rupture of the esophageal varices and hypersplenism due to congenital extrahepatic portal hypertension. Because of persistent hypersplenism and thrombocytopenia, he underwent meso-Rex bypassing with a left iliac vein graft interposed between the umbilical vein and the superior mesenteric vein. Case 2 was a neonate with a large hepatic tumor (mesenchymal hamartoma) that developed abdominal compartment syndrome at birth. The tumor was removed by right hepatectomy with excision of the portal vein bifurcation at 3 days of age. Porto-Rex bypassing was accomplished by end-to-end anastomosis between the portal vein trunk and the umbilical vein.

RESULTS

Sufficient hepatopetal portal flow through the umbilical vein was achieved in both patients and maintained for over 16 and 13 months, respectively. Although hypersplenism remained in Case 1, intrahepatic portal vein branches gradually widened and the cavernoma in the hepatic hilum disappeared within 2 months. Neither patient had symptoms or signs of portal hypertension at the most recent follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Using the umbilical vein as a vein conduit may facilitate construction of a meso/porto-Rex bypass and restore intrahepatic portal vein perfusion in patients with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction.

Severe gastric damage caused by button battery ingestion in a 3-month-old infant

Ingestion of a button battery has been considered a serious problem, causing necrosis and perforation, when impacted in the esophagus. However, such batteries in the stomach rarely cause any harm to the gastric wall, which is regarded as evidence supporting the use of conservative treatment. We present the rare case of a 3-month-old infant with severe gastric wall injury caused by a button battery lodged in the stomach. The present case suggests that button batteries located in the stomach should be removed as soon as possible, especially in infants.

Multiple intestinal atresia and congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome in a surviving monochorionic twin with intrauterine death of the co-twin

This report presents a case of a surviving monochorionic twin with multiple intestinal atresia and congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome, which developed after the intrauterine death of the cotwin. The pathology of the placenta demonstrated vein-to-vein communication between the twins and multiple intravascular thrombi in the dead cotwin.

Anaplastic sarcoma of the kidney with chromosomal abnormality: first report on cytogenetic findings

We report a case of anaplastic sarcoma of the kidney (ASK) with cytogenetic findings. A 12-year-old Japanese girl presented with buttock pain and urinary incontinence. Radiological investigations revealed a right renal tumor with multiple distant metastases and multicystic thyroid tumor. She underwent radical right nephrectomy and subsequently received chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Histologically, the renal tumor demonstrated admixture of various types of mesenchymal elements: cellular spindle cells with anaplastic features, cartilage, and rhabdomyoblastic cells consistent with ASK. Chromosomal analysis revealed the karyotype of the tumor cells to be 46, XX, +8, -10, der (18) t (10; 18) (q21; p11.2). The thyroid tumor was removed later and diagnosed as adenomatous goiter. To our knowledge, this is the first case of ASK with chromosomal abnormality and may provide new insight into the molecular biologic basis of this rare renal tumor.

Anorectal malformation associated with a perineal protrusion of the rectal mucosa: case presentation

We present a rare case of a female neonate with an imperforate anus associated with a perineal mass which may correspond to an extrophied rectal duplication. Associated anomalies were thoracic hemivertebrae and a multicystic dysplastic kidney. Excision of the perineal lesion followed by anal transplantation and perineal reconstruction corrected the anomaly.

Diagnostic accuracy of cardiac metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy in Parkinson disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of cardiac (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigram for detection of Parkinson disease.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study with index test of MIBG scintigram and reference standard of U.K. Parkinson's Disease Brain Bank Criteria was performed in 403 patients. Ratio of cardiac-to-mediastinum MIBG accumulation was determined at 20 min (early H/M) and 4 h (late H/M). Area under the receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve, sensitivity and specificity in detecting Parkinson disease were analyzed. Accuracy was analyzed in a subgroup of patients with disease duration of 3 years or less.

RESULTS

Area under the ROC curve was 0.89 using either early or late H/M as a diagnostic marker (95% CI 0.85-0.92 for early H/M and 0.86-0.93 for late H/M). Sensitivity and specificity were 81.3% (76.1-85.8%) and 85.0% (77.7-90.6%) for early H/M and 84.3% (79.3-88.4%) and 89.5% (83.01-94.1%) for late H/M. In the subgroup with duration of 3 years or less, the ROC curve area, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.86 (0.79-0.92), 76.0% (64.8-85.1%), and 83.9% (71.7-92.4%) for early H/M and 0.85 (0.78-0.92), 73.3% (61.9-82.9%), and 87.5% (75.9-94.8%) for late H/M.

CONCLUSION

Although diagnostic accuracy of cardiac MIBG scintigram is high, it is limited because of insufficient sensitivity in patients with short duration.

Efficacy of DynaCT digital angiography in the detection of the fistulous point of dural arteriovenous fistulas

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Identifying the precise hemodynamic features, including the fistulous point, is essential for treatments of dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs). This study illustrates the efficacy of DynaCT digital angiograms obtained from a 3D C-arm CT to directly visualize the location of the fistulous points in DAVFs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study observed 14 consecutive patients with DAVFs, which included 7 cavernous sinuses, 4 transverse-sigmoid sinuses, 2 convexity-superior sagittal sinuses, and 1 tentorial sinus. In the assessment of the practical applicability for the diagnosis of DAVFs, images obtained from 2D digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and DynaCT were comparatively evaluated.

RESULTS

In all patients, DynaCT digital angiography could clearly demonstrate the feeding arteries, the fistulous points, and the draining veins. Significant anatomic landmarks for the fistulous points with relationships to osseous structures were also provided. Compared with 2D DSA, DynaCT digital angiograms demonstrated 12 additional findings in 8 patients (57%), including the detection of the fistulous points (n = 7), the feeders (n = 1), the retrograde leptomeningeal drainage (n = 1), the draining veins (n = 1), and the venous anomaly (n = 2).

CONCLUSIONS

In comparison with 2D DSA, DynaCT may provide more detailed information to evaluate DAVFs. DynaCT digital angiograms have a high contrast and isotropic spatial resolution, allowing a reliable visualization of small vessels and fine osseous structures. Such detailed information, especially for the location of the fistulous points, could be very useful for either the endovascular or the surgical treatments of DAVFs.

Asymmetric development of tumor-like cysts in a child with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

We report a case of asymmetric development of tumor-like cysts in a child with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The preliminary considerations were renal cell carcinoma and Wilms' tumor. After open biopsy, the patient was diagnosed with ADPKD with atypical renal cyst development. The development pattern of renal cysts in children with ADPKD is varied, and open biopsy is sometimes needed.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of retroperitoneal malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1

We present the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings for a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor arising in a retroperitoneal plexiform neurofibroma in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1. Signal intensity of the malignant area was high on DWI and low on the apparent diffusion coefficient map and differed from findings for the benign area. DWI enabled clear differentiation between malignant and benign areas of the tumor.

Selective transvenous coil embolization of dural arteriovenous fistula. A report of three cases

SUMMARY

We herein report three cases of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) in which the venous outlet immediately adjacent to the fistula was selectively embolized. Case 1: A 69-year-old man presented with a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Angiography demonstrated a DAVF in the left superior petrous sinus. Case 2: A 59-yearold woman presented with dizziness. Angiography demonstrated a DAVF adjacent to great vein of Galen. The DAVF drained through the great vein of Galen with retrograde leptomeningeal venous drainage (RLVD). The basal vein of Rosenthal was enhanced from the great vein of Galen. Case 3: A 51-year-old man presented with an occipital seizure. Angiography demonstrated a DAVF adjacent to the left side of the superior sagittal sinus with RLVD. All three cases were successfully treated by the selective embolization of the venous outlet immediately adjacent to the fistula. Therefore, selective embolization preserved normal venous return.