Adenoid cystic carcinoma: A case report and review of literature.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ADCC) is an uncommon tumor of head and neck, whose clinical patterns are characterized by slow growth, perineural invasion and distant metastasis. Cribriform, tubular and solid are the three recognized histopathological patterns which are seen in ADCC. We report a case of ADCC involving palate with an update on the current understanding of its clinical behavior, molecular biology, pathogenesis, histopathological aspect, treatment and prognosis.

Enamel renal syndrome: A case report with review of literature.

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is a developmental, inherited disorder affecting dental enamel. Preterm and low birth weight children are prone to many serious medical problems during the neonatal period, which may affect the development of oral tissues. We report a case of AI presenting with renal disease and thereby highlighting the importance of early diagnosis of this possible association to prevent renal failure and death of the patient.

Immunohistochemical expression of survivin in oral epithelial dysplasia and different grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins family, is not detectable in most differentiated normal adult tissues but is expressed in a wide range of cancer tissues. Survivin expression in cancer has been associated with poor prognosis, cancer progression, and drug resistance, and the expression levels correlate with more aggressive disease and a poor clinical outcome. Objective: To evaluate and compare the immunoexpression of survivin in the normal oral epithelium (NOE), oral epithelial dysplasia (OED), and different grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methodology: The patterns of survivin immunoexpression and immunoreactivity were assessed in previously diagnosed, paraffin-embedded sections of 10 tissues of NOE and 15 tissues each of OED and the three grades of OSCC (well-, moderately-, and poorly-differentiated). The pattern of survivin expression was recorded as cytoplasmic, nuclear, or both. Survivin immunoreactivity was assessed semi-quantitatively as the immunoreactive score (IRS). Analysis of variance and Tukey-HSD tests were employed for statistical analysis. Results: No immunoreactivity for survivin was evident in the NOE tissues. In the OED tissues, the immunoexpression pattern of survivin was predominantly nuclear in the basal cells, and in the OSCC tissues, cytoplasmic and nuclear. IRS was highest among the moderately- differentiated OSCC, followed by poorly- and well-differentiated OSCC and OED, with a statistically significant difference in the IRS scores between the normal and the study groups. Conclusion: Survivin protein expression may be an important early event in oral carcinogenesis and may predict unfavorable prognosis in OSCC.

Non-Hodgkins lymphoma - A case report and review of literature.

Lymphomas are solid tumors of the immune system and include 14% of all head and neck malignancies. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) are a heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative disorders originating in B-, T-, or natural killer T-cells. They have a wide range of histological appearances and clinical features at presentation, which can make diagnosis difficult. A 58-year-old male patient presented with a 1-month history of swelling in the upper right back tooth region, which developed after extraction. On intraoral examination, there was small nodular lesion proliferation from the extracted socket. Biopsy specimen on histological examination revealed sheets of small round cells with hyperchromatic nucleus resembling lymphoblast. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) confirms the NHL of T-cell origin. This article is an attempt to correlate the clinical presentation and histological importance of small round cell tumors of the jaw and to discuss the differential diagnosis of small round cell tumors. Typically, a multimodal approach is employed, and the principal ancillary technique that have been found to be useful in classification is IHC.

Quantification of micronuclei in exfoliated cells of human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS-infected female patients.

BACKGROUND: Micronucleus (MN) is a biomarker for cytotoxicity, which is formed during cell division. Increased MN scoring has been successfully used to recognize population groups at risk for cancers of oral cavity, cervix, urinary bladder and esophagus. Incorporating MN score along with cytological smear testing gives a better and cost-effective screening for high-risk patients. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effectiveness of using MN score assessed from Papanicolaou (PAP) smears, as a biomarker for chromosomal damage in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oral smears of 25 female HIV/AIDS patients, without habits such as chewing or smoking tobacco, and taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) at ART center, were recruited for the study. After careful oral examination and oral rinsing with normal saline, smears were prepared on slides by scraping the buccal mucosa with a wooden spatula. All the slides were fixed in 95% ethyl alcohol and stained with PAP stain, and 1000 cells were counted per patient. Based on Tolbert et al.'s criteria, MNs were identified, and quantitative scoring of MN was done on the basis of morphological assay. RESULTS: Mean ± standard deviation values of frequency of MNs in HIV-infected females were 73.40 ± 19.70 and in normal females were 38.08 ± 8.56. CONCLUSION: MN scoring on the epithelial cells of buccal mucosa can be used as a biomarker in screening procedures for HIV patients.

Herpes zoster: A clinicocytopathological insight.

Herpes zoster or shingles is reactivation of the varicella zoster virus that had entered the cutaneous nerve endings during an earlier episode of chicken pox traveled to the dorsal root ganglia and remained in a latent form. This condition is characterized by occurrence of multiple, painful, unilateral vesicles and ulceration which shows a typical single dermatome involvement. In this case report, we present a patient with herpes zoster involving the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve, with unilateral vesicles over the right side of lower third of face along the trigeminal nerve tract, with intraoral involvement of buccal mucosa, labial mucosa and the tongue of the same side. Cytopathology revealed classic features of herpes infection including inclusion bodies, perinuclear halo and multinucleated cells.

Central hemangioma: A case report and review of literature.

Hemangioma is a benign self-involuting tumor of endothelial cells. They are the most common benign congenital lesions in humans and are characterized by the proliferation of blood vessels. They are often present at birth or appear soon after, and grow rapidly by endothelial proliferation. This article presents a rare case of central hemangioma occurring in the mandible of a 13-year-old boy, and a brief review on clinical, radiological, and histopathological characteristics of central hemangiomas.

Evolution of dental informatics as a major research tool in oral pathology.

Bioinformatics is a relatively new field of science that incorporates the principles of biology and computer science. It is mainly concerned with collecting, storing, and retrieving data from large databases. Ever since the successful completion of the Human Genome Project, there has been an exponential growth in the volumes of biological data that is being generated worldwide. The evolution of bioinformatics has made it possible to access these databases and apply the information for better research. One discipline that has been benefitted from the advent of bioinformatics is oral pathology. Oral pathology is a branch of dentistry which deals with the diseases of the head and neck region. Remarkable progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases with the aid of bioinformatics. This article attempts to review the evolution and progress of dental informatics as a specialty and its applications in oral pathology.

Cytogenetic biomonitoring in petrol station attendants: A micronucleus study.

BACKGROUND: Benzene, which is a major organic product, on chronic exposure can result in many malignant disorders, and therefore exposure to gasoline vapors is classified by the International Agency for Research of Cancer as possible carcinogenic to humans. Petrol station attendants are chronically exposed to petroleum derivatives through inhalation of petrol during vehicle refuelling. AIM: This study is aimed to investigate cytogenotoxic damage in exfoliated buccal cells obtained from petrol station workers and control subjects using micronucleus (MN) test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out on 30 petrol station attendants working at different petrol stations located in Indore. The control group consisted of 30 healthy subjects who were not exposed to benzene. Buccal cell samples were collected at the end of the work shift. Slides were stained and were evaluated to determine the MN frequencies. Exposure monitoring was performed by the detection of phenol excreted in the urine. Urinary phenol measurements were performed following the colorimetric quantitative determination method of Yamaguchi and Hayashi. RESULTS: Variations in MN frequencies were seen in control and petrol bunk attendants. CONCLUSION: The MN test in exfoliated epithelial cells seems to be a useful biomarker of occupational exposure to genotoxic chemicals. Phenol is the principal metabolite of benzene. Therefore, phenol concentration in the urine of exposed workers can be used as a biomarker of external exposure.

Histopathologic diversity of Gorlin's cyst: a study of four cases and review of literature.

AIM: The purpose of the present article is to discuss four different case reports of the so-called calcifying odontogenic cyst and highlight the histopathological diversity of the same. BACKGROUND: Calcifying odontogenic cyst was first described by Gorlin et al in 1962. Ever since, its identification as a specific odontogenic lesion, controversies and confusions have existed regarding the relationship between cystic lesions and solid tumor masses that share cellular and histomorphologic features. Although several classifications were proposed, dilemma still persists regarding the nature of these lesions as cysts, neoplasms and even malignancies. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The classifications discussed for the so-called calcifying odontogenic cyst by various authors have only added to further confusion rather than enlightening. Though many authors state that classifications remain only an academic exercise, it definitely has significance in treatment planning. Emphasis should, therefore, be laid on a universally accepted classification.

Odontogenic myxoma of the maxilla: A report of a rare case and review of the literature.

Odontogenic myxoma represents an uncommon benign neoplasm comprising of 3-6% of all odontogenic tumors. This article presents a rare case of odontogenic myxoma occurring in the maxilla of a 7-year-old male patient with a brief review of the pathogenesis, clinical, radiological, histopathological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical characteristics of odontogenic myxoma.