Lymphocytoma cutis: diagnostic enigma for the maxillofacial surgeon

Cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia (CLH) is a cutaneous pseudolymphoma with a worldwide distribution, equally affecting all races and ethnic groups. Due to its vast array of characteristics, it is most often missed in the differential diagnosis of firm to soft lumps on the head and neck. A systematic approach to the workup and diagnosis along with treatment of such lesions is discussed in this article. A 20-year-old Asian Indian female presented to our Oral and Maxillofacial unit with a lump on the left side of her forehead for 1 month. Local examination revealed a 2.5×3.0 cm², well circumscribed swelling over the left para median region that was firm to doughy and non-tender. There was no other significant finding on general examination. Excisional biopsy of the lesion was performed, followed by histopathologic processing. The general etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, clinical course, prognosis, treatment, and prevention have been discussed in line with the recent modalities of diagnosis and treatment of CLH. Due to the overlapping clinical and histological characteristics of CLH with many other lesions, it is important to consider this lesion in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous lesions.

Effectiveness of HemCon Dental Dressing versus conventional method of haemostasis in 40 patients on oral antiplatelet drugs

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the HemCon Dental Dressing [HDD] in controlling post extraction bleeding and to ascertain its role in healing of extraction wounds, as compared to control. The 40 participants in the study were all receiving oral antiplatelet therapy [OAT]. A total of 80 extractions were conducted without altering the patients' drug therapy. The extraction sites were divided into 2 groups: one group received a HDD, and the control group where the conventional method of pressure pack with sterile gauze under biting pressure [followed by suturing if required] was used to achieve haemostasis. All HemCon treated sites achieved haemostasis sooner [mean = 53 seconds] than the control sites [mean = 918 seconds] which was statistically significant [P <0.001]. Postoperative pain in the HDD group [1.74] was also significantly lower than in the control group [5.26] [P <0.001]. Approximately 72.5% of HDD-treated sites showed significantly better postoperative healing when compared to the control site [P <0.001]. HDD proved to be an excellent haemostatic agent that significantly shortened the bleeding time following dental extraction in patients on OAT. Additionally, HDD offered significantly improved post-operative healing of the extraction socket and less postoperative pain