Congenital infantile fibrosarcoma: a clinical mimicker of hemangioma.

Congenital infantile fibrosarcoma (CIFS) is a rare pediatric soft tissue tumor; clinically, it presents as a highly vascular mass and may simulate a hemangioma. It usually occurs in the first year of life and has a relatively better prognosis compared to other aggressive spindle cell sarcomas of childhood. We report a patient with CIFS who presented with a nonspecific ulcerated mass lesion over the right shoulder region that was clinically diagnosed as a benign vascular lesion. Histology revealed a highly cellular tumor with closely packed fascicles of spindle cells. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells expressed vimentin.

Multicentric synchronous recurrent aggressive fibromatosis.

Extra-abdominal desmoid tumors are known as aggressive fibromatosis (AFM). Synchronous and metachronous multicentric aggressive fibromatosis are rare lesions and pose dilemma in diagnosis and management. A rare and interesting case of recurrent multicentric, synchronous AFM is presented which to the best of our knowledge has not been reported earlier. A young male presented with well defined, hard, fixed swelling on the thigh. Resected tumor mass on histopathology was diagnosed as an extra abdominal fibromatosis. He presented again after two months with swelling at the same site; and two more swellings on the foot. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) from all three sites was performed; and was suggestive of benign spindle cell lesion of fibrogenic origin with the possibility of multicentric synchronous recurrent aggressive fibromatosis.

Tamoxifen induces rapid, reversible atrophy, and metaplasia in mouse stomach.

Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, is widely used in research and clinically in patients. We find that treatment of normal mice with a single ≥3 mg/20 g body weight dose of tamoxifen leads to apoptosis of >90% of all gastric parietal cells (PCs) and metaplasia of zymogenic chief cells within 3 days. Remarkably, gastric histology returns to nearly normal by 3 weeks. Tamoxifen toxicity occurs by oral and intraperitoneal administration, in both sexes, in multiple strains, and does not depend on estrogen, though acid secretion inhibition is partially protective. Thus, substantial gastric toxicity is a heretofore unappreciated tamoxifen side effect.

Pelvic tuberculosis mimicking ovarian malignancy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is quite prevalent in developing countries, including India. In the female genital tract, the fallopian tube is the most common site involved by the disease. CASE: A woman presented with infertility, menstrual irregularities, an abdominal mass, abdominal pain and weight loss. She was previously operated on for left ovarian germ cell tumor. The clinical, radiologic and histopathologic examination helped to reach the correct diagnosis. CONCLUSION: In a woman with a history of infertility, menstrual irregularities, an abdominal mass and weight loss, differentiation between malignancy and tuberculosis becomes difficult. These two possibilities should always be part of the differential diagnosis.

Abdominal tuberculosis presenting as ileocolic intussusception in an infant.

Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children, with a peak in children 5 to 7 months of age. Identifiable causes are found in 90% of adults, whereas in infants and young children the majority are idiopathic. We report a case of abdominal tuberculosis (ATB) presenting as an ileocolic intussusception in an infant. A 6-month-old infant presented with features of acute intestinal obstruction. Peroperatively, ileocolic intussusception was found. Histological examination revealed caseating epitheloid cell granulomas with positivity for acid-fast bacilli. Only 3 cases of ATB presenting as intussusception have been previously reported in the literature, with only 1 case presenting in a child. This appears to be the 2nd case of ATB presenting as an intussusception in a child and also in an infant. Tuberculosis should also be kept in the differential diagnosis of lead point of intussusception, even in the age group in which most cases are idiopathic, especially in endemic areas.

Contemporary space maintenance for the pediatric patient.

Primary teeth play a critical role in the growth and development of a child. In addition to their role in esthetics, eating, speech, and to encourage normal function and resultant expected growth, the other main function of a primary tooth is to hold space for the permanent successor until it is ready to erupt. Space maintenance forms an integral part of preventive and interceptive orthodontics. After the premature loss of a tooth, not only do space maintainers maintain function and preserve arch length, they also maintain esthetics and eliminate any potential psychological damage a child could face as a result of the premature loss of teeth. The space maintainer also allows the permanent tooth to erupt unhindered into proper alignment and occlusion.

Stress management for dental students performing their first pediatric restorative procedure.

Research has demonstrated that dental students experience considerable stress during their training. Students' anxiety is likely to be especially high when they perform their first pediatric restorative procedure. The aims of this study were to provide a description of dental students' level of anxiety and typical coping strategies and to evaluate the use of a distress management intervention for reducing anxiety around their first pediatric restorative procedure. Dental students were randomly assigned to either an Anxiety Management or an Attention Control group. The management group received training on relaxation strategies (i.e., deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation). The control group attended a lecture on the relation among stress, anxiety, and health. No significant differences were found between group levels of anxiety related to their first pediatric restorative procedure. Information is provided on students' reported level of anxiety and general coping strategies. Limitations of the current study and suggestions for future research are provided.

Regional odontodysplasia. A case report.

Regional odontodysplasia (RO) is an unusual, non-hereditary anomaly of the dental hard tissues with characteristic clinical, radiographic and histological findings. Etiology is unknown, and treatment, while varied, should be appropriate for each individual's clinical findings. In the case reported here, a 2-year-old female was diagnosed with RO. Extractions were performed under general anesthesia. Clinical, radiographic, and histological findings are described.

The dental educator. An endangered species.

The dental educator is increasingly an endangered species. Part of the problem rests with the failure of dental educators themselves to convey to new graduates and to seasoned colleagues the variety, excitement and realities of reasonable income and fringe benefits associated with an academic career. Each of us in dental education must make a daily effort to convey this information through personal experience to our potential junior and new senior colleagues. Loan forgiveness protocols and unique training programs for those who choose to pursue full-time academic careers require collaborative financing from all of us in the profession, from our state and federal governments, and, ideally, from private industrial resources as well. The use of new educational technologies to relieve some of the more repetitive and burdensome aspects of education and to free the time of dental educators for more discussion in small groups, for problem-solving discussions, and for one-on-one interaction is imperative. If the current, clear and frightening decrease in the number of dental educators is ignored or even inadvertently fostered through ignorance or inaction, the entire profession will suffer directly. Practitioners, educators, industry and our government must cooperate in an intense and immediate effort to reverse this trend.