OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to develop new parameters based on the foramina of the trigeminal nerve and to compare them with the conventional cephalometric parameters in different facial skeletal types. METHODS: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and cephalograms from 147 adult patients (57 males and 90 females; mean age, 26.1 years) were categorized as Class I (1°< ANB < 3°), Class II (ANB > 5°), and Class III (ANB <−1°). Seven foramina in the craniofacial area—foramen rotundum (Rot), foramen ovale (Ov), infraorbital foramen, greater palatine foramen, incisive foramen (IF), mandibular foramen (MDF), and mental foramen (MTF)—were identified in the CBCT images. Various linear, angular, and ratio parameters were compared between the groups by using the foramina, and the relationship between the new parameters and the conventional cephalometric parameters was assessed. RESULTS: The distances between the foramina in the cranial base did not differ among the three groups. However, the Rot-IF length was shorter in female Class III patients, while the Ov-MTF length, MDF-MTF length, and Ov-MDF length were shorter in Class II patients than in Class III patients of both sexes. The MDF-MTF/FH plane angle was larger in Class II patients than in Class III patients of both sexes. Most parameters showed moderate to high correlations, but the Ov-MDF-MTF angle showed a relatively low correlation with the gonial angle. CONCLUSIONS The foramina of the trigeminal nerve can be used to supplement assessments based on the conventional skeletal landmarks on CBCT images.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the results of elective neck dissection versus those of observation in the treatment of early stage oral squamous cell carcinoma and to identify factors related to recurrence and survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 52 patients who underwent elective neck dissection and 27 who did not receive neck dissection. RESULTS: In survival analyses, elective neck dissection showed a benefit in overall recurrence (P=0.027), especially in stage I patients (P=0.024). With regard to survival, the benefit was statistically insignificant (P=0.990). In multivariable analysis, overall recurrence was independently related to poor histologic grade (odds ratio [OR]=9.65, P=0.006), and cancer-specific death was independently related to advanced age (OR=6.3, P=0.022), higher clinical T stage (OR=15.2, P=0.01), and poorly differentiated histologic grade (OR=6.6, P=0.025). CONCLUSION: Though there was lower recurrence in the elective neck dissection group, there were no statistically significant results on survival. The characteristics of the tumor itself, such as clinical T stage and poor histologic grade, may be more important in cancer-specific survival.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Neck Dissection* ; Neck* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate