Maxillary sinus membrane (MSM) elevation is a common surgical technique for increasing bone height in the posterior maxilla prior to dental implant placement. However, the biological nature of bone regeneration in MSM remains largely unidentified. In this study, MSM tissue was obtained from 16 individuals during orthognathic surgery and used to isolate MSM stem cells (MSMSCs) by single-colony selection and STRO-1 cell sorting. The cell characteristics in terms of colony-forming ability, cell surface antigens, multi-differentiation potential and in vivo implantation were all evaluated. It was found that MSMSCs were of mesenchymal origin and positive for mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) markers such as STRO-1, CD146, CD29 and CD44; furthermore, under defined culture conditions, MSMSCs were able to form mineral deposits and differentiate into adipocytes and chondrocytes. When transplanted into immunocompromised rodents, MSMSCs showed the capacity to generate bone-like tissue and, importantly, maintain their MSC characteristics after in vivo implantation. These findings provide cellular and molecular evidence that MSM contains stem cells that show functional potential in bone regeneration for dental implant.

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Management of high-flow arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the oral and maxillofacial region, one of the greatest challenges facing oral and maxillofacial surgeons, is patient-specific in almost all cases. The aim of this study was to review our experience with superselective intra-arterial embolization followed by surgical resection and bone wax packing (BWP) of the bone cavity and curettage to manage AVM. Sixteen patients with AVM of the oral and maxillofacial region were included in this study. All patients were evaluated with preoperative angiography, and superselective intra-arterial embolization of the lesions was done in the same session by the same interventional radiologists. Forty-eight to 72 hours later, surgical resection of the soft-tissue vascular lesions and BWP of the bone cavity and curettage were performed. There were no complications related to either the preoperative angiography or the embolization procedure. The pulsation and noise were absent, and the hemorrhage disappeared. Followed up after the surgical treatment for a mean of 38 months (range, 7-63 months), 14 cases were controlled and 2 were improved, and no case was persistent or recurred. Superselective intra-arterial embolization followed by surgical resection and BWP of the bone cavity and curettage was an effective therapy in the oral and maxillofacial region.

Craniocervical necrotizing fasciitis is an uncommon but aggressive infection with high morbidity and mortality. We present a case of craniocervical necrotizing fasciitis with thoracic extension caused by a dental infection in a 56-year-old man, with a successful outcome involving broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics and an aggressive surgical debridement.