Contribution of public oral pathology services to the diagnosis of oral and oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of oral and maxillofacial pathology laboratories (OMPLs) in Brazilian public universities to the diagnosis of lip, oral cavity, and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). A cross-sectional study was performed using biopsy records from a consortium of sixteen public OMPLs from all regions of Brazil (North, Northeast, Central-West, Southeast, and South). Clinical and demographic data of patients diagnosed with lip, oral cavity, and oropharyngeal SCC between 2010 and 2019 were collected from the patients' histopathological records. Of the 120,010 oral and maxillofacial biopsies (2010-2019), 6.9% (8,321 cases) were diagnosed as lip (0.8%, 951 cases), oral cavity (4.9%, 5,971 cases), and oropharyngeal (1.2%, 1,399 cases) SCCs. Most cases were from Brazil's Southeast (64.5%), where six of the OMPLs analyzed are located. The predominant profile of patients with lip and oral cavity SCC was Caucasian men, with a mean age over 60 years, low schooling level, and a previous history of heavy tobacco consumption. In the oropharyngeal group, the majority were non-Caucasian men, with a mean age under 60 years, had a low education level, and were former/current tobacco and alcohol users. According to data from the Brazilian National Cancer Institute, approximately 9.9% of the total lip, oral cavity, and oropharyngeal SCCs reported over the last decade in Brazil may have been diagnosed at the OMPLs included in the current study. Therefore, this data confirms the contribution of public OMPLs with respect to the important diagnostic support they provide to the oral healthcare services extended by the Brazilian Public Health System.

Avaliação do conhecimento de estudantes de odontologia sobre a transmissão e prevenção de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis / Assessment of odontology students' knowledge about the transmission and prevention of sexually transmitted infections

Objetivo: Conhecer o perfil demográfico e comportamento sexual e conhecimento clínico no que se refere à prevenção de IST dos estudantes do 4º ao 10º período do Curso de Odontologia de uma universidade brasileira. Métodos: Tratou-se de um estudo transversal, realizado através da aplicação de um questionário com perguntas sobre aspectos sociais, demográficos, econômicos e relativos às formas de transmissão e expressão clínica de IST. Os dados foram analisados descritivamente (médias, medianas, desvio padrão), assim como também foi realizada a análise estatística inferencial, com nível de significância de 5%. O programa utilizado para executar as inferências foi o SPSS, versão 23. Resultados: Constatou-se, preliminarmente, predominância de brancos entre os entrevistados, baixo uso de preservativos nas relações sexuais, altos índices de realização de teste para detecção de HIV e falhas no conhecimento em identificar IST passíveis de transmissão durante o atendimento odontológico. Conclusão: Há falhas no aprendizado do público-alvo da pesquisa, refletindo em desconhecimento sobre a prevenção, transmissão, sinais e sintomas de IST que envolvam a boca e seus anexos.

Aim:To know the demographic profile, sexual behavior, and clinical knowledge regarding STI prevention of students from the 4th to 10th period of the Dentistry Course at a Brazilian university. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, carried out through the application of a questionnaire with questions about social, demographic, economic aspects and related to the transmission and clinical expression of STIs. Data were analyzed descriptively (means, medians, standard deviation), as well as inferential statistical analysis, with a significance level of 5%. The program used to perform the inferences was SPSS, version 23. Results: This study primarily found a predominance of whites among the interviewees, a low use of condoms in sexual relations, high rates of testing for HIV detection, and flaws in students' knowledge in identifying STIs capable of transmission during dental care. Conclusion: There are gaps in learning within the research target audience, reflecting a lack of knowledge about the prevention, transmission, signs, and symptoms of STIs involving the mouth and its attachments.

Students' perception to an interactive web-based response system in oral and maxillofacial pathology teaching

Abstract This study evaluated dental students' perceptions and adherence to an interactive web-based response system in the teaching of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Between 2018 and 2019, students from a single Brazilian dental school used the Poll Everywhere® app to answer questions on subjects taught during an Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology course. At the end of the academic semester, the students completed a questionnaire containing 10 questions regarding the app's use. The study included 123 students. Regarding the devices used to answer the questions on the app, 117 (95.1%) students used a smartphone and 3 (2.4%) used a laptop. Almost all students (121; 98.4%) agreed that this interactive web-based response system provided the teacher with a better overview of students' understanding and improved their self-assessment of the acquired knowledge of the subjects. Most students (118; 95.9%) preferred classes using this technology and 122 (99.2%) stated that using the app made them feel more engaged in classes. In addition, all students agreed that the app improved student-teacher interactions. Most students (119; 96.7%) considered the digital interactive method more attractive than the conventional teaching approach, and 99 (80.5%) did not have any negative comments regarding the app. In conclusion, the Poll Everywhere® app provides a more dynamic and attractive educational environment for Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology teaching.

Awareness of patients receiving bisphosphonates: a cross-sectional study

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of patients using bisphosphonates (BP) regarding their risks and benefits. Sixty-five patients using BP were included. Each participant completed a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 13 questions, including sociodemographic and general information on BP. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and a binomial test was used to assess patient knowledge about BP, considering a 5% significance level. Fifty-nine (90.2%) patients were unaware or had never heard of BP drugs and only 3 (4.6%) knew their indications. Only 6 patients (9.2%) said they knew about the oral complications caused by BP. Sixty-three patients (96.9%) said they were not referred to the dentist before starting BP treatment. Patients using BP do not have satisfactory knowledge regarding the risks and benefits of BP. Physicians and dentists must be prepared to inform and counsel BP users about their adverse effects and possible risk factors. Our results emphasize the importance of public policies, whether individual or collective, to be taken to increase knowledge about BP to avoid medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Neoplasias orofaciais em crianças e adolescentes / Orofacial neoplasms in children and adolescents

Objetivo:Este trabalho analisou os casos de neoplasias orofaciais em crianças e adolescentes, diagnosticadas pelo Laboratório de Patologia Oral da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco no período de março de 2000 a março de 2019. Métodos: Tratou-se de um estudo retrospectivo das neoplasias mais prevalentes diagnosticada no serviço. Os dados foram tabulados e analisados através do programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences(SPSS) na versão 24.0. Resultados:Dos 6.766 casos diagnosticados, 101 foram de neoplasias, destes 52,5% foram no sexo feminino. A média de idade entre os pacientes foi de 12,6 anos. Em relação ao tipo de biópsia, a excisional foi mais prevalente e em 71,3% dos casos os diagnósticos histopatológicos confirmaram as hipóteses diagnósticas clínicas. A neoplasia benigna não odontogênica mais comum foi o papiloma oral com 30 casos (29,7%). Entre os tumores benignos de origem odontogênica, os odontomas foram os mais prevalentes com 16 casos (15,8%). Foram diagnosticados apenas dois tipos de neoplasias malignas: o carcinoma adenoide cístico e o leiomiossarcoma. Conclusão:Levantamentos epidemiológicos de lesões orofaciais são importantes para determinar a sua prevalência, além de contribuir com a determinação das características na população estudada, fornecendo ao cirurgião-dentista uma base sólida para o diagnóstico e manejo clínico das neoplasias nesses indivíduos.

Aim:To analyze the cases of orofacial neoplasms in children and adolescents, diagnosed by the Oral Pathology Laboratory of the Federal University of Pernambuco from March 2000 to March 2019. Methods: Treatment of a retrospective study of the most prevalent neoplasms diagnosed at the laboratory. Data were tabulated and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 24.0. Results:Of the 6,766 cases diagnosed, 101 were neoplasms, 52.5% of these were not female. The average age among the patients was 12.6 years. Regarding the type of biopsy, tooth extractions were more prevalent, and in 71.3% of the cases, the histopathological diagnoses confirmed the clinical diagnostic hypotheses. The most common non-odontogenic benign neoplasm was the oral papilloma, found in 30 cases (29.7%). Among the benign tumors of odontogenic origin, the odontomas were the most prevalent in 16 cases (15.8%). Only two types of malignant neoplasms were diagnosed: adenoid cystic carcinoma and leiomyosarcoma. Conclusion:Epidemiological surveys of orofacial lesions are important to determine their prevalence and aid in defining the characteristics in the studied population, providing the dentist with a continuous basis for the diagnosis and clinical treatment of neoplasms in these individuals.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma: a clinicopathological study on 194 cases in northeastern Brazil. A cross-sectional retrospective study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Only a few studies have evaluated the clinicopathological features of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in Brazil, and most were conducted in the most industrialized region of the country, i.e. the southeastern region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological features of this malignant neoplasm in northeastern Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study performed in an oral pathology laboratory in Recife, Brazil. METHODS: All cases of oral SCC that occurred between 2000 and 2015 were studied. Clinical data were recorded and histological slides were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test (P ≤ 0.05). RESULTS: A total of 194 cases were evaluated. The male-to-female ratio was 1.5:1. The mean age was 65.4 years, and only 6.6% of the cases occurred in patients younger than 41 years. Most tumors consisted of well-differentiated SCC (54.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study highlight the higher prevalence of oral SCC among women and the increasing number of cases among young patients. Thus there is no specific risk group for oral SCC, as in the past. This fact needs to be taken into consideration in clinical routine care, so that apparently innocuous malignant lesions do not go unnoticed in these individuals.

Abordagem sistêmica do pênfigo vulgar com acometimento oral / Systemic approach of the vulgar penfigure with oral accomplishment

O termo "pênfigo" remete a um grupo de doenças autoimunes raras, caracterizadas pela formação de bolhas, que afetam o epitélio escamoso estratificado da pele, mucosa ou ambos. Cinco tipos principais de pênfigo foram descritos: vulgar (PV), vegetante, eritematoso, foliáceo e paraneoplásico. O PV é a variante mais comum e frequentemente acomete a mucosa oral. Este artigo relata um caso de Pênfigo Vulgar, com acometimento da mucosa oral e com 10 anos de evolução. Paciente de gênero masculino, 70 anos, procurou o serviço, queixando-se de úlceras na mucosa que causavam ardência e não cicatrizavam. Foi realizada uma biópsia incisional da lesão e, após exame histopatológico, estabelecido o diagnóstico de PV, sendo instituído um regime terapêutico com 60 mg de prednisona por via oral, até a remissão dos sintomas. O PV é uma doença sistêmica de caráter imunológico, de grande importância para a odontologia, tendo em vista que geralmente as manifestações orais antecedem as sistêmicas. Essa doença não tem cura, mas pode ser controlada, como no referido caso. Embora o diagnóstico nesse caso não tenha sido precoce, o prognóstico foi favorável... (AU)

The term "pemphigus" refers to a group of rare autoimmune diseases, characterized by the formation of blisters that affect the squamous epithelium stratified of the skin, oral mucosa or both. Five main types of pemphigus were described: pemphigus vulgaris (PV), vegetative, erythematous, foliaceous and paraneoplastic pemphigus. PV is a more common variant and often affects an oral mucosa. This article reports a case of Pemphigus vulgaris, with involvement of the oral mucosa and 10 years of evolution. A male patient, 70 years old, sought the service complaining of ulcers in the mucosa that caused burning and did not heal. An incisional biopsy of the lesion was performed and after histopathological examination, the diagnosis of PV was established, a therapeutic regimen with oral prednisone 60 mg was instituted util remission of symptoms. PV is a systemic disease of immunological character that has great importance for dentistry, since oral manifestations usually precede the systemic ones. This disease has no cure, can be controlled, as in this case, although the diagnosis in this case was not early, the prognosis was favorable... (AU)