ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To analyze and to quantify morphological acinar postmortem changes in rat sublingual glands (SLG). MATERIAL AND METHODSs: Fifty rats were divided into two groups of 25 animals each. Group I was used for morphological and morphometric evaluations and group II for the determination of gland density and processed gland volume. Acinar autolytic changes were studied at 0 (control group), 3, 6, 12 and 24 h postmortem periods. The morphometric analysis of the volume density (Vv) and total volume (Vt) of intact (ia) and autolyzed (aa) acini was performed under light microscopy using a Zeiss II integration grid with 100 symmetrically distributed points. RESULTS: Morphologically, temporal progressive nuclear alterations and gradual loss of the structural architecture of acinar cells were found. Regarding quantitative results, both the Vvaa and the Vvia showed statistically significant differences among all postmortem periods (p<0.05). Vvaa increased from 0.42% at 0 h to 75.84% at 24 h postmortem and Vvia decreased from 71.16% to 0% over the same period. For Vtaa and Vtia, no statistically significant differences occurred between 12-24 h and 0-3 h (p>0.05), respectively. Vtaa increased from 0.18 mm³ at 0 h to 38.17 mm³ at 12 h, while Vtia showed a decrease from 33.47 mm³ to 0 mm³ between 3-24 h postmortem. Data concerning Vtaa were adjusted by two-variable linear regression, obtaining the equation: y=-3.54 + 3.38x (r²=0.90). The Vtaa growth rate calculated by this equation was 3.38 mm³/h between 0-12 h. CONCLUSION: Acinar autolysis on rat SLG demonstrated the most significant signs during the first 6 h postmortem and was widely spread through the gland at 12 h.

Objetivou-se avaliar a morfologia da eminência e a configuração e a posição do disco da articulação temporomandibular (ATM) em pacientes com deslocamento de disco. Foram analisadas imagens por ressonância magnética (IRM) da ATM de 14 pacientes com deslocamento de disco bilateral, sem redução unilateral. A morfologia da eminência articular foi caracterizada como caixa, sigmóide, aplainada e deformada. A configuração do disco articular foi dividida em bicôncava, biplanar, biconvexa, hemiconvexa e dobrada e a sua posição em "a" (superior), "b" (ântero-superior), "c" (anterior) e "d" (ântero-inferior). As imagens foram divididas e comparadas entre o lado com deslocamento de disco com redução (DDCR) e o lado sem redução (DDSR). Quanto à forma da eminência articular, a forma sigmóide foi a mais incidente, seguida da caixa, no lado com DDCR, embora esta diferença não tenha sido estatisticamente significante. No lado com DDSR, a forma aplainada foi a mais freqüente (p = 0,041). Na configuração do disco, a forma bicôncava foi observada em 79% dos casos de DDCR (p = 0,001) e a dobrada em 43% dos casos de DDSR (p = 0,008). Em relação à posição do disco, a posição "b" (ântero-superior) foi a mais freqüente no lado com DDCR (p = 0,001), enquanto que no lado com DDSR, foi a "d" (ântero-inferior) (p = 0,001). O lado do paciente com alteração na configuração do disco e uma forma menor da eminência articular da ATM parece ter mais chance de desenvolver o deslocamento do disco sem redução quando comparado ao outro lado.

The aim of this study was to assess the shape of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) articular eminence and the articular disc configuration and position in patients with disc displacement. TMJ magnetic resonance images (MRI) of 14 patients with bilateral disc displacement without unilateral reduction were analyzed. Articular eminence morphology was characterized as box, sigmoid, flattened, or deformed. Articular disc configuration was divided into biconcave, biplanar, biconvex, hemiconvex or folded, and its position, as "a" (superior), "b" (anterosuperior), "c" (anterior) or "d" (anteroinferior). The images were divided and the sides with disc displacement with reduction (DDWR) and without reduction (DDWOR) were compared. Regarding articular eminence shape, the sigmoid form presented the greatest incidence, followed by the box form, in the DDWR side, although this was not statistically significant. In the DDWOR side, the flattened shape was the most frequent (p = 0.041). As to disc configuration, the biconcave shape was found in 79% of the DDWR cases (p = 0.001) and the folded type predominated in 43% of the DDWOR cases (p = 0.008). As to disc position, in the DDWR side, "b" (anterosuperior position) was the most frequent (p = 0.001), whereas in the DDWOR side, "d" (anteroinferior position) was the most often observed (p = 0.001). The side of the patient with altered disc configuration and smaller shape of TMJ articular eminence seems to be more likely to develop non-reducing disc displacement as compared to the contralateral side.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of relative measurements from the roof of the mandibular canal to the alveolar crest in multislice (multidetector) computed tomography (MDCT) and single-slice computed tomography (SSCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 26 printed CT films (7 SSCT and 19 MDCT) from the files of the LABI-3D (3D Imaging Laboratory) of the School of Dentistry of the University of São Paulo (FOUSP), which had been acquired using different protocols. Two observers analyzed in a randomized and independent order a series of 22 oblique CT reconstructions of each patient. Each observer analyzed the CT scans twice. The length of the mandibular canal and the distance between the mandibular canal roof and the crest of the alveolar ridge were obtained. Dahlberg test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean error found for the mandibular canal length measurements obtained from SSCT was 0.53 mm in the interobserver analysis, and 0.38 mm for both observers. On MDCT images, the mean error was 0.0 mm in the interobserver analysis, and 0.0 and 0.23 mm in the intraobserver analysis. Regarding the distance between the mandibular canal roof and the alveolar bone crest, the SSCT images showed a mean error of 1.16 mm in the interobserver analysis and 0.66 and 0.59 mm in the intraobserver analysis. In the MDCT images, the mean error was 0.72 mm in the interobserver analysis and 0.50 and 0.54 mm in the intraobserver analysis. CONCLUSION: Multislice CT was demonstrated a more accurate method and demonstrated high reproducibility in the analysis of important anatomical landmarks for planning of mandibular dental implants, namely the mandibular canal pathway and alveolar crest height.

OBJETIVO: o objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a precisão e acurácia (validade) de medidas cefalométricas lineares em imagens reconstruídas em terceira dimensão (3D), pela técnica de volume, a partir da tomografia computadorizada (TC) multislice. METODOLOGIA: o material da pesquisa consistiu de 10 (dez) crânios secos, previamente selecionados, sem distinção de etnia ou gênero, os quais foram submetidos à TC multislice 16 cortes com 0,5mm de espessura por 0,3mm de intervalo de reconstrução. Posteriormente, os dados obtidos foram enviados para uma estação de trabalho independente, contendo o programa Vitrea®. Os pontos cefalométricos (n=13) foram localizados e as respectivas medidas ósseas lineares (n=15) foram realizadas por 2 examinadores, previamente treinados, medindo cada um duas vezes, independentemente, em 3D. As medidas físicas foram obtidas por um terceiro examinador, utilizando um paquímetro digital. A análise dos dados foi realizada mediante um estudo comparativo entre as medidas inter e intra-examinadores, em 3D-TC, e entre estas e as medidas físicas obtidas diretamente nos crânios, utilizando ANOVA (análise de variância). RESULTADOS: não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os valores das medidas inter e intra-examinadores, nem entre as medidas físicas e em 3D, com p>0,6 para todas as medidas. O erro percentual foi de 2,05% para as medidas interexaminadores e de 2,11% para as medidas intra-examinadores. A média do erro percentual entre as medidas físicas e em 3D variou de 0,96% a 1,47%. CONCLUSÃO: todas as medidas cefalométricas lineares foram consideradas precisas e acuradas utilizando a técnica de volume em 3D por meio da TC multislice.

AIM: To test the precision and accuracy of conventional linear cephalometric measurements in 3D reconstructed images using a multislice CT. METHODS: The study population consisted of 10 dry skulls, previously selected, without distinction of ethnic group and sex, which were submitted to a multislice CT 16 slices using 0.5mm of slice thickness and 0.3mm of interval of reconstruction. Subsequently the data was sent to an independent workstation. Conventional craniofacial landmarks (n=13), usually applied to facial orthopedic and orthodontic treatment planning, were localized and linear measurements (n=15) were obtained by 2 radiologists, twice each, independently, in 3D-CT images. In total 600 measurements were made. The correspondent physical measurements were obtained by a third examiner using a digital caliper. Statistical evaluation of the measurements was carried out regarding to inter and intra-examiner, in 3D-CT, and between image and physical measurements from dry skulls, using analysis of variance. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: There were no statistically significant differences between inter and intra-examiner measurements or between imaging and physical measurements. The results also showed an inter-examiner variability error of 2.05%, and an intra-examiner variability error of 2.11%. There were also no statistically significant differences between imaging and physical measurements with p>0.6 for all measurements. The mean difference was from 0.96% to 1.47% for all measurements. The validity of linear cephalometric measurements was established using 3D volume rendering from a multislice CT with high precision and accuracy.