The use of adipous tissue transfer for the correction of maxillo-facial defects was reported for the first time at the end of the 19 century and has been the subject of numerous studies. Grafted fat tissue has been used for years as an excellent filler during facial enhancement and recontouring. Several techniques have been proposed for harvesting and grafting the fat. However, due to the damage caused by excessive adipose tissue during these maneuvers, the results were not satisfying. The situation required a larger amount of fat to be harvested even for small corrections. In 1988, the American plastic surgeon Sydney R. Coleman personally developed a technique called Structural Fat Grafting (SFG), which allows the fat to be harvested and injected with minimal risk of necrosis and reabsorption.

Pleomorphic adenoma, is the most common tumor (50%) of the major and minor salivary glands. Seventy percent of the tumors of the minor salivary glands are pleomorphic adenomas, and the most common intraoral site is the palate, followed by the upper lip and buccal mucosa. Pleomorphic adenoma appears as a painless firm mass and, in most cases, does not cause ulceration of the overlying mucosa. Generally it is mobile, except when it occurs in the hard palate. Intraoral mixed tumors, especially those noted within the palate, lack a well-defined capsule. Lesions of the palate frequently involve periosteum or bone. Approximately 25% of benign mixed tumors undergo malignant transformation. Treatment for the pleomorphic adenoma is radical surgery. Inadequate resection leads to local recurrence. The authors report a palate pleomorphic adenoma in a 67-year-old female patient.

Giant mucocele of the frontal sinus is a rare pathology of benign entity caused by retention of mucous secretions in the sinus. It may expand and erode the surrounding structures such as bones and cerebral parenchyma. The authors describe a patient with frontal giant mucocele involving the orbit, the ethmoid, and intracranial portion of the dura. The main presenting symptoms were diplopia and proptosis. A computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging were performed to permit differential diagnosis from other pathologies such as ossifying fibroma, fibrous dysplasia, and other neoplasms. A single stage maxillofacial and neurosurgical approach to treatment was taken consisting in the removal of the mucocele and reconstruction of the eroded bones with cranial bone grafts. The dura was repaired with temporalis muscle fascia sealed with fibrin glue. Two years after surgery, the patient shows no recurrence and satisfactory morphologic and functional results.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder is the second most common chronic pain condition affecting the general population after back pain. It encompasses a complex set of conditions, manifesting with jaw pain and limitation in mouth opening, influencing chewing, eating, speaking, and facial expression. TMJ dysfunction could be related to mechanical abnormalities or underlying inflammatory arthropathies, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). TMJ exhibits a complex anatomy, and thus a thorough investigation is required to detect the TMJ abnormalities. Importantly, TMJ involvement can be completely asymptomatic during the early stages of the disease, showing no clinically detectable signs, exposing patients to delayed diagnosis, and progressive irreversible condylar damage. For the prevention of JIA complications, early diagnosis is therefore essential. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is described in the literature as the gold standard method to evaluate TMJ. However, it is a high-cost procedure, not available in all centers, and requires a long time for image acquisition, which could represent a problem notably in the pediatric population. It also suffers restricted usage in patients with claustrophobia. Ultrasonography (US) has emerged in recent years as an alternative diagnostic method, as it is less expensive, not invasive, and does not demand special facilities. In this narrative review, we will investigate the power of US in TMJ disorders based on the most relevant literature data, from an early screening of TMJ changes to differential diagnosis and monitoring. We then propose a potential algorithm to optimize the management of TMJ pathology, questioning what would be the role of ultrasonographic study.

Background:Osteoma is a benign tumor composed of both cortical and cancellous bones that increase in size with continuous formation of bone. The pathogenesis is unknown. Osteomas can cause symptoms depending on their location and size. They can be asymptomatic or symptomatic, with trismus, limitation of mouth opening, and progressive malocclusion with facial asymmetry and can be painful.Aim:The aim of this paper is to report an unusual case of osteoma in the mandibular condylar neck and review the cases of mandibular condyle osteomas that have been reported in the last 15 years.Conclusions:Only a few cases involving the temporomandibular joint have been reported. We report an unusual case of osteoma in the mandibular condylar neck causing restricted mouth opening in addition to pain. Complete surgical excision in symptomatic cases is the therapy of choice with a low recurrence rate.