Abstract Idiopathic Bone Cavity (IBC) or Simple Bone Cyst (SBC) is a non- epithelialized bone cavity with serosanguinous fluid content or empty. There is a literature debate regarding its pathogenesis that remains unclear. The main treatment option is the surgical exploration, although there are successful cases described in the literature in which just a follow-up with clinical and radiographic evaluation was performed. Objective This study aimed to assess the spontaneous resolution of idiopathic bone cavity untreated by surgery. Material and Methods Twenty-one patients diagnosed with surgically untreated IBC were submitted to a follow-up protocol modified from Damante, Guerra, and Ferreira5 (2002). A clinical and radiographic evaluation was performed in 13 patients (13/21), while eight patients (8/21) were only radiographically evaluated. Three observers evaluated the panoramic radiographs of 21 patients and the Kappa test was performed by intra and inter-examiners. Inductive and descriptive statistics were applied to the results. Results Only one patient had a positive response to palpation and percussion of the teeth in the cyst area. Most of the cysts evaluated were rated as 3 (lesion “in involution”), 4 (lesion “almost completely resolved”), or 5 (“completely resolved”). Conclusions We observed progressive spontaneous resolution of IBC. Most cysts were found in the recovery process in different follow-up periods. Patient's follow-up, without surgery, may be considered after the diagnosis based on epidemiological, clinical, and radiographic features of the lesion.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as seqüelas bucais provocadas pela radioterapia em pacientes com neoplasias de cabeça e pescoço, tratados entre 1999 e 2003. Foram examinados 100 pacientes (24 mulheres e 76 homens), com idades entre 30 e 83 anos (média de 59,2 anos). O tempo desde a radioterapia variou de 1 a 72 meses (média de 28 meses). A média da dose total de radiação recebida pelos pacientes foi de 5.955 cGy. O protocolo de avaliação consistiu de anamnese, exame físico, aferição do fluxo salivar estimulado e pHmetria da saliva. Os sintomas referidos foram boca seca (68%), disfagia (38%) e disgeusia (30%). Em 64% dos indivíduos o valor médio do fluxo salivar estimulado esteve abaixo de 0.7 ml/min. O pH médio da amostra foi de 6.97 (± 0.714). O fluxo estimulado e a ocorrência de candidíase atrófica aumentaram conforme o aumento do tempo pós-radioterapia (p < 0.05). A ocorrência de mucosite esteve associada a maiores doses de radiação (p < 0.05). Dois casos de segundo tumor primário foram diagnosticados. O principal efeito da radioterapia na região de cabeça e pescoço foi a redução do fluxo salivar, apesar de nosso estudo ter demonstrado que há uma melhora tardia do fluxo salivar.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the oral sequelae of radiotherapy in patients treated between 1999 and 2003 for head and neck tumors. One-hundred patients (24 women, 76 men) ranging in age from 30 to 83 years (mean 59.2 years) were examined. Time since radiotherapy ranged from 1 to 72 months (mean 28 months). The total mean radiation dose received by the patients was 5,955 cGy. The evaluation protocol included anamnesis, intraoral and extraoral examination, measurement of stimulated salivary flow and salivary pH. Symptoms reported by the patients included dry mouth (68%), dysphagia (38%), and dysgeusia (30%). In 64% of the patients, the mean stimulated salivary flow rate was less than 0.7 ml/min. The mean salivary pH was 6.97 (± 0.714). Stimulated salivary flow increased with increasing postradiotherapy time (p < 0.05). The prevalence of mucositis was associated with higher radiation doses (p < 0.05), and the prevalence of atrophic candidiasis was related to a longer post-treatment period (p < 0.05). Two cases of recurrence of the primary tumor were detected during the study. The main effect of radiotheraphy in the head and neck region was a reduction of the salivary flow rate, even though our study demonstrated that there was a modest late improvement of the salivary flow.

OBJECTIVES: This study applied a simple method to evaluate the performance of three digital devices (two scanners and one digital camera) using the reproducibility of pixel values attributed to the same radiographic image. METHODS: Using the same capture parameters, a radiographic image was repeatedly digitized in order to determine the variability of pixel values given to the image throughout the digitization process. One coefficient value was obtained and was called pixel value reproducibility. RESULTS: A significant difference in pixel values was observed among the three devices for the digitized images (ANOVA, p<0.00001). There was significant pixel value variability at the same digitization conditions for one scanner and the digital camera. CONCLUSIONS: Digital devices may assign pixel values differently in consecutive digitization depending on the optical density of the radiographic image and the equipment. The pixel value reproducibility was not satisfactory as tested for two devices. It is maybe advisable knowing the digitization variations regarding pixel values whenever using digital radiography images in longitudinal clinical examinations.