Human Papillomavirus and Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-OPSCC) comprises approximately 25% of all head and neck cancers (head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, HNSCC). Epidemiologic studies have shown a dramatic increase of HPV-OPSCC in the past 2 decades, whereas tobacco-related HNSCC rates are decreasing worldwide. The distinctions between HPV-OPSCC and oral cavity cancers are now reflected in the most recent editions of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Head and Neck and the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Manual, respectively. This review describes current understanding of the link between HPV infection and OPSCC.

World Workshop on Oral Medicine VI: Utilization of Oral Medicine-specific software for support of clinical care, research, and education: current status and strategy for broader implementation.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the current scope and status of Oral Medicine-specific software (OMSS) utilized to support clinical care, research, and education in Oral Medicine and to propose a strategy for broader implementation of OMSS within the global Oral Medicine community. STUDY DESIGN: An invitation letter explaining the objectives was sent to the global Oral Medicine community. Respondents were interviewed to obtain information about different aspects of OMSS functionality. RESULTS: Ten OMSS tools were identified. Four were being used for clinical care, one was being used for research, two were being used for education, and three were multipurpose. Clinical software was being utilized as databases developed to integrate of different type of clinical information. Research software was designed to facilitate multicenter research. Educational software represented interactive, case-orientated technology designed for clinical training in Oral Medicine. Easy access to patient data was the most commonly reported advantage. Difficulty of use and poor integration with other software was the most commonly reported disadvantage. CONCLUSIONS: The OMSS presented in this paper demonstrate how information technology (IT) can have an impact on the quality of patient care, research, and education in the field of Oral Medicine. A strategy for broader implementation of OMSS is proposed.

Oral lichen planus in a dermatomyositis patient that resolved after intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an autoimmune muscle disorder characterized by proximal muscle weakness and skin lesions. The significance to oral health professionals includes oral manifestations and increased incidence of malignancy that might occur in the oral cavity. Reports of oral mucosal involvement in DM are scanty. When they are published, there is often a clinical description of "resembling lichen planus" or "leukoplakia-like" without histologic evaluation. This makes it difficult to establish the definitive diagnosis of these oral lesions and formulate treatment options. It is also difficult to assess the relationship between oral lesions and oral malignancy in this patient population. We report a DM patient who presented with clinical and histologic features of lichen planus of the buccal mucosa that resolved with intravenous immunoglobulin treatment for DM.

Updated clinical considerations for dental implant therapy in irradiated head and neck cancer patients.

An increasing number of reports indicate successful use of dental implants (DI) during oral rehabilitation for head and neck cancer patients undergoing tumor surgery and radiation therapy. Implant-supported dentures are a viable option when patients cannot use conventional dentures due to adverse effects of radiation therapy, including oral dryness or fragile mucosa, in addition to compromised anatomy; however, negative effects of radiation, including osteoradionecrosis, are well documented in the literature, and early loss of implants in irradiated bone has been reported. There is currently no consensus concerning DI safety or clinical guidelines for their use in irradiated head and neck cancer patients. It is important for health care professionals to be aware of the multidimensional risk factors for these patients when planning oral rehabilitation with DIs, and to provide optimal treatment options and maximize the overall treatment outcome. This paper reviews and updates the impact of radiotherapy on DI survival and discusses clinical considerations for DI therapy in irradiated head and neck cancer patients.

Dermatomyositis: a contemporary review for oral health care providers.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an autoimmune muscle disorder characterized by skin rashes and progressive muscle weakness. This disease is a subset of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and affects both children and adults. Increased incidence of malignancy has been observed in adult DM, making early diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring crucial. In the past, limitations of these diagnostic criteria and classifications often made it difficult to identify the disease in the early stages. However, in recent years a new understanding of the pathogenesis and clinical features of DM has developed, which enables clinicians to distinguish DM from other autoimmune disorders and other subsets of IIM. Many signs and symptoms of DM involve the orofacial regions. This paper reviews and updates the disease process, orofacial manifestations, and dental considerations for patients with DM. Understanding new knowledge of DM helps oral health care providers coordinate care for patients with this disease.