• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.65-68
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• 2019

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD), involving the masticator system of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and masticator muscle, can be characterized with the cardinal signs and symptoms of jaw pain, noises and limitation of mandibular range of motion. However, TMD requires differential diagnosis due to its heterogeneous characteristics with various causes despite the similar clinical profiles. Oral cancer involving TMJ and the masticator system, although infrequent, can be one of these causes and should be considered one of the most life-threatening disease mimicking TMDs. This report introduces a case of masticator space tumor originally diagnosed as TMD in a 73-year-old Korean female with previous history of brain tumor. The clinical signs and symptoms closely mimic that of TMD which may have disrupted differential diagnosis. We discuss here key points for suspecting TMDs of secondary origin, namely, that of cancer and the implications it has on dental clinicians.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.8
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• pp.350-353
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• 2011

A 47-day-old male infant presented with fever, poor oral intake, irritability, and right-sided bluish buccal swelling. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the neck showed a round mass lesion of about $2.0{\times}1.5cm$ that suggested abscess formation in the right masticator space. Ultrasound-guided extraoral aspiration of the abscess at the right masseter muscle was successful. Staphylococcus aureus was identified in the culture from the aspirated pus and blood. Appropriate antibiotics were given and the patient recovered. The patient underwent follow-up ultrasonography that showed an improved state of the previously observed right masseter muscle swelling at about 1 month after hospital discharge. A masticator space abscess usually originates from an odontogenic infection in adults. We report a case of masticator space abscess in a 47-day-old infant in whom septicemia without odontogenic infection was suspected.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.270-273
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• 2019

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rapidly progressive necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue and fascia, caused by bacterial infection. Usually presenting in the extremities, trunk, or perineum, it is uncommon in the craniofacial or cervical area. Cervicofacial NF is a potentially fatal infection, which should be managed with early detection and intervention. Most cases have a primary odontogenic source of infection, especially when the masticator space is involved. We report a case of masticator space NF that developed without odontogenic origin in a 78-year old female who was treated with prompt surgical drainage and intravenous antibiotics.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.120-122
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• 2016

Wernicke's encephalopathy is a fatal neurological disease caused by thiamine deficiency. Many reports indicate that Wernicke's encephalopathy is caused by malnutrition. We report the case of a 79-year-old female patient who had a left masticator space and parapharyngeal space abscess who was diagnosed with Wernicke's encephalopathy. She reported problems while eating due to the presence of the abscess, but the true quantities of food she was ingesting were never assessed. Clinicians have a responsibility to provide adequate nutritional support by ensuring that patients receive adequate nutrition. Clinicians should also keep in mind that Wernicke's encephalopathy may occur in patients who experienced prolonged periods of malnutrition.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.175-179
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• 2002

Follicular carcinomas are the second most common form of thyroid cancer, accounting for 10 to 20% of all thyroid cancers. Follicular carcinomas have a propensity to metastasize via the bloodstream, spreading to bone, lungs, liver, and elsewhere. We described the case of a 48-year-old woman who presented with swelling of the left preauricular area, which was a consequence of a metastatic follicular carcinoma of the masticator space. Plain films showed illdefined erosive bony changes from the left condylar head to the mandibular notch. Contrast-enhanced CT images showed a well circumscribed round mass with well enhancement within left masticator space. On MR images, the mass was heterogenously hyperintense to the muscle on T2-weighted images and isointense or hyperintense to the muscle on Tl-weighted images, and showed good enhancement on contrast-enhanced Tl-weighted images. Upon microscopic examination, the metastatic mass was found to be composed of fairly uniform cells forming small follicles containing colloid, showing capsular and vascular invasion.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.58 no.9
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• pp.556-562
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• 2020

Neurofibroma is a benign, heterogenous peripheral nerve sheath tumor arising from the connective tissue of peripheral nerve sheaths, especially the endoneurium. Its intraoral occurrence is uncommon and its occurrence within mandible is extremely rare. A case of solitary intraosseous neurofibroma of the mandible involving masticator space in a 8-year-old male is reported. He was referred from a private local clinic with a chief complaint of limitation in opening of the mouth. Panoramic and cone-beam computed tomographic images showed unilocular radiolucent lesion with scalloped border at the right mandibular ramus, connected posteriorly to the enlarged mandibular foramen and anteriorly to the mandibular canal. T1-weighted magnetic resonance images showed soft tissue mass of isointensity compared with muscles. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images showed peripheral enhancement and T2-weighted images showed the heterogeneous hyperintense mass with extension between lateral and medial pterygoid muscles. The tumor was surgically removed under general anesthesia and diagnosed to be neurofibroma at the biopsy.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.191-196
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• 2017

Squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa has an aggressive nature, as it grows rapidly and penetrates well with a high recurrence rate. If cancers originating from the buccal mucosa invade adjacent anatomical structures, surgical tumor resection becomes more challenging, thus raising specific considerations for reconstruction relative to the extent of resection. The present case describes the surgical management of a 58-year-old man who presented with persistent ulceration of the mucosal membrane and a mouth-opening limitation of 11 mm. Diagnostic imaging revealed a buccal mucosa tumor that had invaded the retroantral space upward with involvement of the anterior border of the masseter muscle by the lateral part of the tumor. In this report, we present the surgical approach we used to access the masticator space behind the maxillary sinus and discuss how to manage possible damage to Stensen's duct during resection of buccal mucosa tumors.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2015

Clinical features of masticator-space abscess (MSA) are very similar to those of parotitis or temporomandibular disorder (TMD), making early differential diagnosis difficult. Local causes of MSA include nerve block anesthesia, infection after tooth extraction, and trauma to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ); the systemic cause is immunodeficiency. Odontogenic causes account for most etiologies, but there are also unusual causes of MSA. A 66-year-old male patient visited the emergency room (ER) presenting with left-side TMJ pain three days after receiving an acupressure massage. He was tentatively diagnosed with conventional post-trauma TMD and discharged with medication. However, the patient returned to the ER with increased pain. At this time, his TMD diagnosis was confirmed. He made a third visit to the ER during which facial computed tomographic (CT) images were taken. CT readings identified an abscess or hematoma in the left masticator space. After hospitalizing the patient, needle aspiration confirmed pus in the infratemporal and temporal fossa. Antibiotics were administered, and the abscess was drained through an incision made by the attending physician. The patient's symptoms decreased, and he was discharged.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.193-197
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• 2023

An epidermal cyst, also known as an epidermoid cyst or epidermal inclusion cyst, is the most prevalent type of cutaneous cyst. This non-cancerous lesion can appear anywhere on the body, typically presenting as an asymptomatic dermal nodule with a visible central punctum. In the case presented herein, an epidermal cyst with uncommon features was misdiagnosed as a lymphatic malformation based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A 61-year-old man came to us with a swollen left cheek that had been present for 11 months. The preoperative MRI revealed a 3×3.8×4.6 cm lobulated cystic lesion with thin rim enhancement in the left masticator space. The initial differential diagnosis pointed toward a lymphatic malformation. We proceeded with surgical excision of the lesion via an intraoral approach, and the specimen was sent to the pathology department. The pathological diagnosis revealed a ruptured epidermal cyst, indicating that the initial diagnosis of a lymphatic malformation based on preoperative MRI was incorrect. Epidermal cysts located under the muscle with no visible central punctum are uncommon, but should be considered if a patient presents with facial swelling.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.241-245
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• 2001

A 16-year-old female was admitted to Wonkwang dental hospital with a chief complaint of painful ulceration on right buccal mucosa around mandibular 3rd molar area. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed relative large soft tissue mass on the infratemporal fossa and masseter muscle region. By the feature of T1-weighted and T2-weighted of MR imaging, we suspected this mass as a kind of myogenic sarcoma. Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies established a definitive diagnosis of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. A review of the literature was also presented.