Oral cancer and precancer in Oral Pathology and Medicine curricula of Mexican dental schools.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the teaching-learning process characteristics of Oral Pathology and Medicine (OP&M) related to oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral cancer (OC), in the dental schools' curricula in Mexico, to analyze the approach given to this topic worldwide, and to provide the possible solution strategies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to OP&M deans and professors from public Mexican Universities to explore the curriculum and academic profile of the dental schools. The recommendations gathered from a workshop with expert professors on the challenges in OPMD/OC teaching were reported. RESULTS: Twenty-two dental schools participated (22 deans, 30 professors). The most widely used strategies were clinical-case resolving (86%) and presentations (73%). Although 77.3% of the programs included maxillofacial lesions, only 40.9% contemplated OPMD/OC. Only 45% of the programs developed community activities for early OC detection. The workshop recommendations were (i) multidisciplinary approach to OPMD/OC teaching, involving OP&M professors in other dental and nondental courses; (ii) implementation of the most effective teaching techniques (currently, problem-based learning and clinical-case presentation) in OP&M curricula; (iii) education of OP&M professors on teaching-learning processes. CONCLUSIONS: These recommendations from the Mexican context, integrated with similar experiences from other countries could contribute to develop a unique, internationally acknowledged OP&M curriculum.

Multiple dens invaginatus, mulberry molar and conical teeth. Case reportand genetic considerations

Dens in dente, also known as dens invaginatus and dilated compound odontoma, is a malformation that can occuron primary, permanent, or supernumerary teeth that is characterized by a deep invagination of the surface of acrown or root covered with enamel. This abnormality in tooth morphology generally affect the maxillary lateralincisors but several cases of multiple dens invaginatus have been reported in the literature. A 15 year-old femalepatient is reported here presenting five dens invaginatus: four in the permanent mandibular incisors and one in thepermanent, maxillary left central incisor, additionally the following dental findings were observed: a permanentmandibular left mulberry molar, molarization of some premolars, several microdontic conoid teeth, retention offive primary teeth, absence of several permanent teeth germs, a macrodontic molar with abnormal roots and severalperiapical radiolucencies associated to the dens invaginatus. There was no family history of similar dental findingsto those observed in the patient. There are several genes that participate in the development of teeth, of those, thefollowing five genes could be implicated as responsible or co-participators for some of the dental anomalies presentin this patient: MSX1 (Muscle segment homeobox 1), DLX1 & DLX2 (Distal-less homeobox 1 & 2 genes),PAX9 (Paired box gene) and PITX2 (Pituitary homeobox transciption factor 2) (AU)

Multiple dens invaginatus, mulberry molar and conical teeth. Case report and genetic considerations.

Dens in dente, also known as dens invaginatus and dilated compound odontoma, is a malformation that can occur on primary, permanent, or supernumerary teeth that is characterized by a deep invagination of the surface of a crown or root covered with enamel. This abnormality in tooth morphology generally affect the maxillary lateral incisors but several cases of multiple dens invaginatus have been reported in the literature. A 15 year-old female patient is reported here presenting five dens invaginatus: four in the permanent mandibular incisors and one in the permanent, maxillary left central incisor, additionally the following dental findings were observed: a permanent mandibular left mulberry molar, molarization of some premolars, several microdontic conoid teeth, retention of five primary teeth, absence of several permanent teeth germs, a macrodontic molar with abnormal roots and several periapical radiolucencies associated to the dens invaginatus. There was no family history of similar dental findings to those observed in the patient. There are several genes that participate in the development of teeth, of those, the following five genes could be implicated as responsible or co-participators for some of the dental anomalies present in this patient: MSX1 (Muscle segment homeobox 1), DLX1 & DLX2 (Distal-less homeobox 1 & 2 genes), PAX9 (Paired box gene) and PITX2 (Pituitary homeobox transciption factor 2).

Clinico-pathologic conference: case 4.

A 45 years old male patient presented with an asymptomatic right mandibular mass that extended from the angle to the premolar area. It had been present for 3 months at the time of the initial presentation. Panoramic radiograph revealed an ill-defined unilocular radiolucency. Previous dental treatment included molar extractions and antibiotic therapy. Considerable bleeding was encountered during incisional biopsy.

Leiomyomatous hamartoma: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Two cases of leiomyomatous hamartoma (LH) in patients of Latin ancestry are reported here. The first lesion was detected on the incisive papilla of a 19-year-old woman; this is an unusual age because these lesions are commonly observed during the first years of life. The second lesion found on the middle-dorsum of the tongue was observed in a 5-month-old boy. The diagnosis was based on the histopathological appearance and confirmed by immunohistochemistry with positivity for smooth muscle actin, muscle-specific actin, S-100 protein and desmin. To date, only 16 cases have been reported in the English-language literature. Controversial epidemiological data, histogenesis, clinical/histopathological features, and differential diagnosis are discussed herein.