This study aims to develop an algorithm for the automatic segmentation of the parotid gland on CT images of the head and neck using U-Net architecture and to evaluate the model’s performance. In this retrospective study, a total of 30 anonymized CT volumes of the head and neck were sliced into 931 axial images of the parotid glands. Ground truth labeling was performed with the CranioCatch Annotation Tool (CranioCatch, Eskisehir, Turkey) by two oral and maxillofacial radiologists. The images were resized to 512 × 512 and split into training (80%), validation (10%), and testing (10%) subgroups. A deep convolutional neural network model was developed using U-net architecture. The automatic segmentation performance was evaluated in terms of the F1-score, precision, sensitivity, and the Area Under Curve (AUC) statistics. The threshold for a successful segmentation was determined by the intersection of over 50% of the pixels with the ground truth. The F1-score, precision, and sensitivity of the AI model in segmenting the parotid glands in the axial CT slices were found to be 1. The AUC value was 0.96. This study has shown that it is possible to use AI models based on deep learning to automatically segment the parotid gland on axial CT images.

Aim: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), also known as the mandibular joint; is a nearby the synovial joint that connects the mandible to the temporal bone the external auditory canal. Although TMJ disorders are frequently seen; they can be caused by many reasons such as disorders caused by masticatory muscles, condyle and articular disc incompatibility, inflammatory joint diseases, chronic mandibular hypomobility, and congenital or acquired muscle and bone disorders. Case reports: In our study, the diagnosis and treatment process of 4 patients who applied to the Gazi University Faculty of Dentistry Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery clinic with complaints of TMJ pain were presented. All of the cases had masseter hypertrophy due to bruxism. Botulinum toxin-A (BTA) was injected to the masseter muscles bilateraly after written informed consents were obtained from each patients before the procedure. In the control examinations an unexpected paradoxical masseteric bulging was detected. A more superficial BTA injection was applied to the superficial lobe of the masseter muscles that was not affected by BTA in presented patients and the complaints were dissolved in ten days. Conclusions: The cases presented in our article have a rare complication of BTA injections and can be treated easily after a correct diagnosis by the physician. Physicians who perform BTA injections for bruxism and masseter hypertrophy should be aware of the possible complications and should have sufficient knowledge and experience to overcome it.

Mucoceles are benign lesions with an incidence of 0.4% - 0.9% in the general population. It contains a mucus-filled cyst. They may localize in many regions such as the oral cavity, paranasal sinuses, gall bladder and appendix. Frequently, they localize at the lower lip. Mucocele is seen equally in both sexes and it can occur at any age. Clinically, mucoceles are detected as asymptomatic, well-defined, pinkish-blue colored, fluctuant nodule on palpation. In oral mucocele treatment; Many methods such as surgical excision, cryosurgery, intralesional corticosteroid, electrocautery, CO2 laser are used. Factors such as the size of the lesion and the possibility of recurrence should be considered in the treatment method to be chosen. In this case report, the diagnosis of oral mucocele and treatment process of the patient who applied to our clinic with the complaint of swelling in the lower lip will be explained.