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Objectives: To investigate the anatomical variations of the mandibular canal through assessment in situ, panoramic radiography, CT or CBCT and assess their frequency. Methods: Articles were selected from databases (Cochrane Library, LILACS, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar), articles without limitations of language, in which the main objective was to evaluate the frequency of bifurcation of the mandibular canal through assessment in situ, panoramic radiography, CT or CBCT were selected. A meta-analysis of prevalence using random effects was performed. Results: Using a selection process in two phases, 15 articles were identified, and a meta-analysis was conducted. The results from these meta-analyses showed that the overall prevalence of anatomical variations for in situ studies was 6.46%, and through assessment of panoramic radiography and CT or CBCT the overall prevalence shown was 4.20% and 16.25%, respectively. Conclusions: There are two types of variations of the mandibular canal: the retromolar canal and bifid mandibular canal. The frequency variations through assessing in situ, panoramic radiography and CT or CBCT were 6.46%, 4.20% and 16.25%, respectively.

Based on a moderate level of evidence, CBCT could be useful for furcation involvement periodontal cases, but it should only be used in cases where clinical evaluation and conventional radiographic imaging do not provide the information necessary for an adequate diagnosis and proper periodontal treatment planning.

Objectives: Determine the prevalence of radiographic findings (RF) on both jaws among patients receiving antiresorptive bone therapy. methods: Six electronic databases and partial grey literature were searched. Data was collected based on predetermined criteria. The key features from the included studies were extracted. The MAStARI tool assessed the potential risk of bias (RoB) among the studies, while the GRADE approach determined the level of evidence. Results: 29 studies were identified and included in the qualitative analysis, totalling 1133 patients. 27 studies had sufficient data to be included in a series of meta-analysis reporting 12 types of radiographic findings, and were split in two groups based on their study design. G1 comprised descriptive observational studies and G2 analytical cross-sectional studies. Two studies presented a high RoB, 16 had a moderate RoB, and 11 had low RoB. The overall level of evidence identified was very low. The most frequent RF were mixed lytic-sclerotic areas (73.88%), followed by osteolytic changes (66.18%), osteosclerosis (65.75%), cortical bone erosion (50.83%), persisting alveolar socket (45.77%), periodontal ligament (PDL) widening (44.69%), and inferior alveolar canal (IAC) involvement (43.40%). Less frequent, but equally important, were the periosteal reaction (34.27%), lamina dura thickening (32.97%), sequestrum (29.94%), pathologic fracture (20.90%), and density confluence of cortical and cancellous bone (16.61%). 20 patients reported no signs. conclusions: RF prevalence was high and mainly included mixed lytic-sclerotic areas, osteolysis, osteosclerosis, cortical bone erosion, persisting alveolar socket, PDL-widening, IAC-involvement. Due to the very low level of evidence (GRADE) caution should be exercised when considering these findings.

Coagulation studies were normal. Anti-nuclear factor was positive to 1:80. The ESR was 27 mm/h, normal for the stage of pregnancy. Bone marrow examination showed increased numbers of megakaryocytes. Within 2 months platelets returned to normal without treatment. Three months after the completion of the pregnancy, and the episode of transient cerebral ischaemia, spontaneous leg bruising occurred. There was now severe thrombocytopenia (platelets 10 x 109/l). DNA binding was 45 units per ml, Sm antibody positive and C3 and C4 fractions of the complement depressed. Prednisone 60 mg daily reducing to 10 mg daily was started. In the 12 months that followed there were five or six further transient left hemipareses. Platelet numbers were now normal. Platelet aggregation studies showed reduced aggregation with ADP, adrenalin, collagen and ristocetin but the bleeding time was prolonged (15 minutes). Dipyridamole (400 mg daily) was added to the prednisone (10 mg daily). In the subsequent 8 months there were no further hemiparetic attacks but frequent skin urticarial lesions occurred. CT scan was normal.Case 3 A 41-year-old woman suffered hepatitis and the following year seronegative polyarthritis associated with an