Analysis of the expression of heat-shock protein 27 in patients with oral lichen planus.

OBJECTIVE: Heat-shock protein 27 (hsp27) has been implicated in several biological events. In this experimental study, we aimed at analysing, for the first time, the expression of hsp27 in the diverse stages of oral lichen planus (OLP) lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six biopsy specimens of patients with OLP and 10 of healthy patients were selected. OLP specimens were divided into three groups: G1 - moderate or mildly active OLP; G2 - active or moderately active atrophic OLP; G3 - mild or inactive atrophic OLP. Hsp27 expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry (staining intensity and percentage of stained cells), and results of staining were compared between the different groups. Gender, age and anatomical location were also studied. RESULTS: In the basal layer, an increase of hsp27 expression in both G2 and G3 was observed when compared to G1 and control group. In contrast, a decrease of hsp27 expression in the superficial layer was observed in all groups when compared to control group. CONCLUSION: The increased expression of Hsp27 in the basal layer observed during the OLP evolution and the less staining in the superficial layers in all cases of OLP suggest that hsp27 may have a role in the OLP pathogenesis.

Periapical central giant cell granuloma misdiagnosed as odontogenic cyst.

AIM: To present the clinicopathological features of a series of four periapically located central giant cell granulomas (CGCGs) that were misdiagnosed and treated as being of endodontic origin. SUMMARY: Four cases of periapical CGCGs were submitted with a clinical diagnosis of either radicular or residual cyst. In two cases, root canal treatment had been performed previously. The patients were two women and two men whose age ranged from 31 to 85 years. Two cases were located in the mandibular premolar-molar region, and two in the anterolateral region of the maxilla. Two lesions were submitted for histological examination with a diagnosis of radicular cyst whereas the remaining two were submitted with a diagnosis of residual cyst. KEY LEARNING POINTS: Periapical giant cell lesions may be unilocular and therefore misdiagnosed as an endodontic lesion because of their radiographic similarity to an inflammatory periradicular lesion, especially if the teeth have been root filled or if the vitality is negative or doubtful. It is important to follow up the healing process of a periapical radiolucency related to a root filled tooth and, in case of persistence, to perform surgery and to submit the specimen for histological examination.

Mucosal disease series. Number VI. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS; aphthae; canker sores) is a common condition which is characterized by multiple recurrent small, round or ovoid ulcers with circumscribed margins, erythematous haloes, and yellow or grey floors typically presenting first in childhood or adolescence. RAS occurs worldwide although it appears most common in the developed world. The aetiology of RAS is not entirely clear. Despite many studies trying to identify a causal microorganism, RAS does not appear to be infectious. A genetic predisposition is present, as shown by strong associations with genotypes of IL-1beta; IL-6 in RAS patients, and a positive family history in about one-third of patients with RAS. Haematinic deficiency is found in up to 20% of patients. Cessation of smoking may precipitate or exacerbate RAS in some cases. Ulcers similar to RAS may be seen in human immunodeficiency virus disease and some other immune defects, and drugs, especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and nicorandil may produce lesions clinically similar to RAS. Topical corticosteroids can often control RAS. However, the treatment of RAS remains unsatisfactory, as most therapies only reduce the severity of the ulceration and do not stop recurrence.

Epithelial biology.

The oral mucous membrane has features similar to skin but also differs in several ways. This paper reviews the aspects of epithelial biology necessary for an understanding of the vesiculoerosive disorders.

[Slowly absorbable and non absorbable injectable products]. / Les produits injectables lentement et non résorbables.

Products which are non absorbable or slowly absorbable make the correction of facial wasting of any origin possible. These highly efficient products are unfortunately sometimes responsible for complications or even undesirable after effects. In order to avoid this the following are necessary: clinical and histological analysis of facias granulomas, a proposal for guidelines for their use which would predict in situ tolerance.

Orofacial granulomas after injection of cosmetic fillers. Histopathologic and clinical study of 11 cases.

BACKGROUND: Purposely, cosmetic injections in orofacial tissues of various resorbable, biodegradable, or permanent fillers may be followed by development of foreign-body granulomas. The aim of this article is to contribute to the histologic identification of the filler material. METHODS: Histologic and clinical features of 11 cases of granulomas on orofacial fillers are described. RESULTS: Only 3/11 patients knew the nature of the injected product. Four histologic patterns were found: (i) Artecoll, (ii) Dermalive, and (iii) New-Fill granuloma, all three of the classic giant cell granuloma type, differing in respect of foreign particles; and (iv) Liquid Silicone granuloma, which featured a cystic and macrophagic type. Information was often missing or misleading, patients or practitioners being reluctant to give the details. CONCLUSION: Increasing demand for orofacial tissue augmentation makes pathologists face new, and sometimes, puzzling granuloma types. Identification of the foreign product might be required for therapeutic or medico-legal reasons.

Focal cemento-osseous dysplasia involving a mandibular lateral incisor.

AIM: To report a case of focal cemento-osseous dysplasia (FCOD) affecting a single tooth misdiagnosed as an inflammatory periapical lesion. SUMMARY: The patient, a black 47-year-old woman complained of pain affecting the right side of the mandible. Routine X-ray examination discovered a periapical radiolucency on the mandibular left lateral incisor (tooth 32), which was otherwise normal and not carious. As the response of this tooth to a vitality test was doubtful, the lesion was diagnosed as a periapical granuloma or cyst secondary to pulpal necrosis. Endodontic treatment and curettage of the periapical lesion were performed, and histological examination of the curettage material revealed a localized osseous dysplasia. KEY LEARNING POINTS: FCOD may rarely affect only one tooth, resembling a periapical granuloma or cyst. Careful diagnosis is of paramount importance in cases of questionable periapical lesions affecting normal-looking teeth, before beginning treatment. FCOD generally requires no treatment. Biopsy is warranted in case of doubt.

[Solitary circumscribed neuroma (palisaded encapsulated neuroma) of the oral mucosa]. / Neurome circonscrit solitaire (neurome palissadique encapsulé) de la muqueuse buccale.

BACKGROUND: The solitary circumscribed neuroma or "Palisaded Encapsulated Neuroma" is an infrequent benign tumor of the skin of adults, often localised on the face, around the orifices. The involvement of the oral mucosa or of the vermilion border of the lips is rare. CASE REPORTS: In our 5 cases, a small painless and more or less protruding nodule had been present for years on the mucosa of the hard palate (50 year-old man, 43 year-old woman), the soft palate (63 year-old woman), the vermilion border of the lower lip (48 year-old woman), and the gingiva (26 year-old man). The non specific clinical aspect did not permit a correct diagnosis. DISCUSSION: Histologically, the solitary circumscribed neuroma is formed by a proliferation of Schwann cells arranged in interlacing bundles, featuring one or several well-limited nodules, sometimes surrounded by a thin capsule. At first sight, this aspect might sometimes mimic schwannoma or neurofibroma. The lesion is interspersed with a variable amount of axons. An association with neurofibromatosis or MEN syndrome type IIb has never been found. Even after incomplete excision the solitary circumscribed neuroma does not recur, a fact supporting a reactive rather than a neoplastic origin.

Premalignant lesions of the oral mucosa. A discussion about the place of oral intraepithelial neoplasia (OIN).

Oral precancerous lesions are traditionally classified as leukoplakia, erythroplakia, erythroleukoplakia, and distinguished from precancerous conditions. Major attention is focused on leukoplakia, and no distinction made whether dysplasia is or not present. Malignant transformation is a multistep process that should be approached also from the histological, and not merely from the clinical standpoint. Intraepithelial neoplasia, a notion created for the uterine cervix and already extended to other mucosae, should be adapted to the oral mucosa and used as diagnostic term. OIN (oral intraepithelial neoplasia) is not only a change in terminology, but also a progress in the unifying concept of precursors of squamous cell carcinoma, suppressing the useless discussion between severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ. Furthermore, grading lesions as low or high grade OIN increases diagnostic consistency. OIN is suspected on three clinical patterns reflecting histological changes: mosaic, irregular keratosis, erythroplakia (or intermediate aspects), but dysplastic mucosa may also appear normal clinically.

Polishing-paste-induced silica granuloma of the gingiva.

Polishing-paste-induced silica granuloma of the gingiva, an uncommon condition, may mimic various local or systemic pathological entities. A 33-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man were referred for a localised refractory gingival inflammation. Clinical diagnoses included allergy, lichen planus and herpes. Biopsy showed well-demarcated non-caseating granulomas, associating epithelioid and Langhans giant cells. Special bacterial and mycological stains were negative. Systemic examination and laboratory tests ruled out sarcoidosis and Crohn's disease. Polarised light revealed birefringent crystalline foreign material. A diagnosis of silica granuloma was made. Both patients had frequent dental hygiene treatment including polishing with abrasive paste, suggesting an iatrogenic implantation of the foreign bodies. Gingival damage can result from the use of some dental materials containing silica. Often asymptomatic, sometimes producing visible lesions, granulomatous gingivitis may mislead into wrong diagnosis and treatment. Old silica granulomas may become symptomatic if the patient contracts sarcoidosis.

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia of the mouth: report of six cases and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Oral intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is an uncommon, reactive vascular lesion with no specific clinical features. Microscopically two subtypes have been described: a pure and a mixed form. The importance of IPEH is in its resemblance to angiosarcoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate both the prevalence of IPEH in a consecutive series of oral vascular malformations and the clinico-pathological features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Histological sections of 103 consecutive cases filed as vascular malformations were reviewed for histopathological criteria of IPEH. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We found six cases of oral IPEH, of which three were diagnosed previously. Five of these cases were in males, and the mean age was 58 years. It was usually described as a blue or reddish nodule. The lower lip mucosa was the most common site followed by the tongue and the upper lip. Histologically, thrombi were always present and five out of the six lesions appeared in a mixed form, while only one was in a pure form. Three cases were diagnosed at an early stage and in the other three, the lesions were well-established. In this series, IPEH associated with vascular malformation was more common than reported in previous studies. Lesions at early stages, especially in the mixed form, may be unnoticed.

Epithelial odontogenic ghost cell tumour of the mandibular gingiva.

The epithelial odontogenic ghost cell tumour (EOGCT) is considered as a solid 'neoplastic' variant of the calcifying odontogenic cyst and is an uncommon lesion for which various names have been proposed over the years. We describe here an extraosseous case occurring on the edentulous mandibular gingiva in the right bicuspid area of a 70-year-old woman. The lesion was a painless nodule that appeared clinically as a hyperplastic mass, which was considered to be of reactive nature. Radiographic examination showed a localised resorption of the underlying mandibular bone. The tumour was excised; there was no recurrence at a 2-year follow-up examination.

Mandibular osteosarcoma with unusual expression of alpha-actin smooth muscle antibody.

Mandibular osteosarcoma is a rare neoplasm, appearing in young adults as a mass often accompanied by pain, occasionally with paraesthesias, gingival haemorrhages and mobility of teeth, and rarely with ulceration of the skin or mucosa. Roentgenological lytic and/or sclerotic findings are non-specific. Some patients have a previous history of Paget's disease, antecedent radiation treatment, or fibrous dysplasia. Malignant osteoid production can be minimal, resulting in diagnostic difficulties. We report a case of a 33 year-old woman, who, in the absence of a clinical soil associated with the condition, was presented with advanced disease. Immunohistochemical study using alpha-actin smooth muscle antibody disclosed bizarre tumor cells with "dendritic" appearance, to our knowledge, never described thus far. This report draws attention to this uncommon neoplasm and reviews the pertinent literature related to this entity.

[Ossifying periostitis (Garrè) and chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis. Diagnostic limits and therapeutic management]. / Périostite ossifiante (Garrè) et ostéomyélite chronique sclérosante. Frontières diagnostiques et conduite thérapeutique.

Periostitis ossificans and sclerosing osteomyelitis are rare subtypes of non suppurative chronic osteomyelitis in which there is, additionally, a proliferation of periosteum leading to bony deposition secondary to a mild chronic infection making their diagnosis difficult. The authors report two clinical cases and try to release criteria helping to discern them because the prognosis and therapeutic management of these affections are different.