Exploring the Complexities: Understanding the Clinicopathological Spectrum of Tuberculosis in the Head-and-neck Region.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB) affecting the head-and-neck area can often resemble cancer, leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. A better understanding of this condition is necessary for early diagnosis and prompt treatment initiation. This study examines the clinical and pathological characteristics of different types of TB in the head-and-neck region. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed patients diagnosed with TB in the head-and-neck region at a health center between January 1, 2018, and January 1, 2024. The study population consisted of patients who were diagnosed with TB of the head and neck. RESULTS: The study analyzed data from 30 patients, comprising 14 (47%) males and 16 (53%) females, all of whom tested negative for HIV. Most cases (15, 50%) were observed in the age group of 15-24 years, with 5 (15.6%) subjects falling in the age bracket of 0-14 years. Among the types of lesions detected, cervical tubercular adenitis was the most frequently observed lesion, found in 22 (73%) subjects. Females are more susceptible to cervical tubercular adenitis, while males are more likely to experience laryngeal TB. CONCLUSION: The clinical manifestation of TB affecting the head-and-neck region can exhibit a diverse range of symptoms, which may lead to misinterpretation and diagnostic errors. Therefore, health-care practitioners must understand and include the condition in differential diagnoses.

Exploring the Oral Manifestations of Tuberculosis: A Comprehensive Analysis of Prevalence and Clinicopathological Characteristics of Oral Lesions.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to report all cases of oral tuberculosis (TB), a rare manifestation of the fatal infectious disease primarily affecting the pulmonary system. The report also evaluated the clinicopathological characteristics of oral TB lesions. METHODS: A total of 25 patients who presented with oral lesions between August 2013 and August 2023 were diagnosed with TB through surgical biopsy despite having no prior history of the disease. Their clinical symptoms, auxiliary examinations, treatments, and outcomes were recorded and analyzed for further study. RESULTS: In a study of 25 patients with oral TB, all patients were found to have the disease, with 16 males and 9 females affected. The gender distribution was skewed toward males, with a 1.77 male-to-female ratio. Twelve cases of the affected sites were reported in the mandible, six cases in the buccal mucosa, four in the lips, two in the gingiva, and one in the tongue. The age range of affected patients was 0-70 years old, and all lesions were indicative of primary TB. The appearance of the affected mucosa varied, with ulceration and swelling being the most common manifestations. CONCLUSION: Patients who present with oral ulcerations and swellings should be evaluated for the possibility of TB. To confirm and differentiate this condition from other diseases, obtaining a biopsy specimen for histological analysis and performing acid-fast stains and cultures is recommended. These tests will enable a precise diagnosis and guide appropriate treatment.

"Pleomorphic adenoma in salivary glands: Insights from a 100-patient analysis".

Introduction: Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is a benign epithelial tumour originating from the salivary gland, specifically the parotid gland. This study aims to comprehensively analyse the clinical and pathological features of PA by examining the characteristics of the tumour, including its histological structure and immunohistochemical profile. Materials and Methods: Over 8 years, beginning in October 2015 and ending in October 2023, an exhaustive retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal University, Karnataka, India. The research focused on 100 cases of pleomorphic adenoma and involved a meticulous examination of the clinical and pathological characteristics obtained by retrieving the pertinent files. Results: Out of all the primary tumours, the majority (n = 70) was found in the parotid gland, followed by PA that developed from the minor salivary glands of the palate (n = 07), the submandibular gland (n = 17), and the lacrimal gland (n = 04). Only two cases had a primary tumour located in the lips. Females were more susceptible to these tumours than males. The parotid gland tumours showed a distinct trend in laterality, with 73 cases observed on the right side. In 85%, the initial symptom of the condition was painless swelling. Conclusion: Salivary gland PA is typically a benign tumour. However, a subset of these tumours can exhibit a malignant phenotype. The preferred treatment is surgical excision with adequate margins.

Location and shape of the apical foramina in posterior teeth: an in-vitro analysis.

PURPOSE: To analyze the morphology of shapes and positions of the apical foramina in permanent maxillary and mandibular posterior teeth. METHODS: Examination of the apical foramina was performed with a stereomicroscope at a magnification of 10×. The anatomic parameters evaluated were the shapes of the peripheral contours of the apical foramina (rounded, oval, asymmetric, and semilunar). The location of the apical foramen was recorded as a center, buccal, lingual, mesial, and distal surface. RESULTS: Results have shown that the frequency of deviation was 68% in all teeth being assessed, while the most frequent location of the apical foramen was in the center, with 32% followed by distal with 18%. The common shape of apical foramina was round shape in all the teeth. CONCLUSIONS: The variation in the location and shapes of apical foramina in teeth. The commonest deviation in location of apical foramina was distal and the frequent shape was of a round shape.

Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Practitioners Towards Pediatric Dental Care in Raichur District, Karnataka, India-A Survey.

AIM: To determine the knowledge and attitude of medical practitioners towards dental care of children in Raichur district. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is a cross-sectional survey conducted among the medical practitioners of Raichur district. The study was conducted on 300 practitioners, randomly selected. The data pertaining to their knowledge and attitude about oral health was gathered using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive studies. RESULTS: Among the study subjects, 32.7% of the respondents could recognize the precancerous and cancerous lesions in the oral cavity. A total of 65.3% considered that dental caries is not infectious. About 52.7% of the physicians thought that scaling causes tooth sensitivity and only 22.7% knew that tooth brushing should be initiated after the eruption of the first milk tooth. CONCLUSION: Medical practitioners had a moderate knowledge and attitude towards pediatric dental care.How to cite this article: Rao DG, Sheereen S, Havale R, Prakasha SS, Zulfikar MM. Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Practitioners Towards Pediatric Dental Care in Raichur District, Karnataka, India-A Survey. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent, 2018;11(5):375-381.