ABSTRACTS OF CURRENT LITERATURE 1035

“A simple intranasal window will suffice to end the antral suppuration in most in-

stances. The operation preferred to close the oroantral fistula is a modification of the

Bergerl operation.

“Technique of the Berger operation (slightly modified): A horizontal incision is

made parallel to the alveolus, through the fistula, to bone. Elevation of the periosteum

of the two flaps reveals the location and size of the bony opening. The epithelial lining is removed, with granulations and any softened bone. Two divergent incisions made

through the periosteum, extending upward to the buccoalveolar fold. The flap is fash-

ioned considerably larger than the opening to be covered. The scar tissue of the medial edge of the incision is removed, so that the suture line will be well medial to the edge of the

bony fistula. The flap is turned outward and the periosteum incised horizontally at the

base. This allows free mobilization by utilizing the buccoalveolar fold. The periosteum only must be cut so as not to sever the blood supply of the flap. Mattress sutures are

used to secure the flap over the bony fistula. The remaining edges are united with single

sutures.” Reference

1. Berger, A.: Oroantral Openings and Their Surgical Correction, Arch. Otolaryng. 30: 400, 1939.

T. J. C.

Wber Riesencysten am Rals. (Giant Cysts in the Neck.) I-I. Richter. Ztschr. f. Laryng.,

Rhin., Otol. 3: 24, 1952.

Cysts in the neck are congenital formations, either from the bronchial clefts, or from the thyroglossal duct. The former are lateral, the latter medial cysts. They form

early in life, are rarely very large, and have the shape of a small elongated tube.

The author reports the case of a large lateral cyst about the size of two large fists, containing sh liter pus. The wall of the cyst was hard, 2 cm. thick, and lumpy on the

inner surface. It was lined by stratified squamous epithelium and grown to the vessel

wall. Two other cases were those of a patient with median cysts, the size of a man’s fist.

One was grown to the hyoid bone and the tongue, and contained a viscid, mucoid fluid, the

other a cheesy yellowish mass. E. P. S.

Seltene Komplikation der Wurzelspitzenresektion an lateralen oberen Schneidezghnen. (A Rare Complication of Apicoectomy on Second Maxillary Incisors.) A. Ott. Deutsehe Ztschr. f. Zahnh. 7: 355, 1952.

Two cases of lateral incisors are described on which an apicoeetomy was performed

and which had two roots. The labial one was amputated but the palatal one was not and caused recurrence of the granuloma. The pulatal root extended from a palatal enamel

tubercle attached to the crown of the tooth. The treatment of such cases is described. H. R. M.

Infection of the Maxilla in Relation to Maxillary Sinusitis. W. E. Fleming. M. ;1. AUS-

tralia 1: 19, Feb. 14, 1953.

The type of infection under discussion is usually referred to in the literature as

“dental infection. ” This term, however, is too narrow and not very accurate, for the following reasons:

1. Every untreated infected tooth ultimately produces infection of the adjacent

jawbone: (a) If the pulp of the tooth becomes septic, the bone at the apex of the root becomes infected as soon as the organisms or their toxins pass through the foramina of

the root apex. (b) In the case of periodontal disease (so-called pyorrhea alveolaris) the infection is outside the tooth from the beginning, the initial lesion being an ulceration of the surface of the gum which is in contact with the tooth. From there infection spreads